Graves International Art - John James Audubon Quadrupeds of North America Octavo Edition

To make 'The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America' more affordable and widely available, the octavo edition, a smaller version of the folio, was first published between 1849 and 1854. A second editon was published in 1852-1854, a third in 1856-1860, and a fourth and final edition in 1870. Each of the four editions consisted of approx. 2,000 copies. Printed by the distinguished Philadelphia print maker, John T. Bowen, the set of 150 black-and-white lithographs was completely hand-colored. Lithography proved an excellent medium for depicting the tactile realism of the mammals’ fur. These miniatures exhibit a remarkable amount of attention to quality and detail, as well as a meticulous fidelity to the larger works. Some compositional changes were made in order to accommodate the smaller format. These prints also bear the plate number in the upper right-hand corner and the subscription number in the upper left. Many of the mammals were drawn by John Woodhouse Audubon with backgrounds contributed by Victor Gifford Audubon.

Title: "The Jaguar" (Plate: 101)
Year: 1849-1870
Medium: Original Hand-Colored Lithograph
Limited edition: approx. 8,000
Framed size: 16.75" x 20"
Sheet size: 7" x 10.25"
Image size: 5.25" x 8.25"
Price: SOLD

John James Audubon (April 26, 1785, Les Cayes, Saint-Domingue (later Haiti) – January 27, 1851 (aged 65) Manhattan, New York, U.S.), born Jean-Jacques Audubon, was an American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter. He was notable for his expansive studies to document all types of American birds and for his detailed illustrations that depicted the birds in their natural habitats. His major work, a color-plate book entitled The Birds of America (1827–1839), is considered one of the finest ornithological works ever completed. Audubon identified 25 new species.

Title: "Grey Fox" (Plate: 21)
Year: 1849-1870
Medium: Original Hand-Colored Lithograph
Limited edition: approx. 8,000
Framed size: 10.38" x 12"
Sheet size: approx. 7" x 10.25"
Image size: 5" x 7.25"
Price: SOLD

Title: "Say's Marmot Squirrel" (Plate: 114)
Year: 1849-1870
Medium: Original Hand-Colored Lithograph
Limited edition: approx. 8,000
Framed size: 14.38" x 17.38"
Sheet size: approx. 7" x 10.25"
Image size: 4.88" x 7.88"
Price: $450