Value of book birds of america

John james audubons birds of america is a portal into the natural world. The winning bid was a record auction price for a printed book and was placed by londonbased art dealer michael tollemache, who outbid three. List of most expensive books and manuscripts wikipedia. Oct 01, 2011 birds of america is one of the best known natural history books ever produced and also one of the most valuable a complete set sold at auction in december 2010 for. I have a book titled birds of america and below that title is the word audubon, this is on the spine of the book at the bottom of the spine are the numbers 598. Spine is faded and light wear to cover else very good condition. Because of that fact, perhaps amateur and advanced birders will not object to procuring both books together when exploring such birding hot spots as the lower rio grande. Audubon prints birds of america havell edition prints. The 435 plates in this volume were originally published by audubon, in london, during the years 18271838text. Robert havell after john james audubon, american flamingo, 1838, handcolored etching and aquatint on whatman paper plate. First published in double elephant size approximately a metre tall in the first half of the nineteenth century, it is famous for. Check out our post on 3ways to research book values online to help determine if you have a book of value. Guide to collecting john james audubon prints skinner inc.

Buy the birds of america complete ed of audubons classic work by john james audubon isbn. Worlds most expensive book, birds of america, set to. When searching on its important to find copies that match the book in your possession as accurately as possible. A complete first edition set of john james audubons gloriously illustrated the birds of america 18271838 goes up for auction june 14. The birds of american animals natural history museum.

The balance that survives is found in museums, libraries and institutions. The birds of america, from drawings made in the united states and. It said the price, paid by a buyer who wished to remain anonymous, was the second highest sum paid for the book at auction. Published 18271838, its considered one of the great natural history books in status, size and value. A rare copy of audubons birds of america heads to auction. One of the finest ornithological works ever printed audubon, john james. Its not hard to imagine why a group of teenagers might attempt to steal john james audubons book the birds of america, a true story told in the film american animals. Aside from being famous in the rare book world, birds of america has also immense historical and ornithological importance. An author signature by a significant and recognized writer can mean an increase in value of ten times or more the ordinary value of the book in most cases. Whether youre age 9 or 90, whether youre a novice or advanced birder, this book. First published in double elephant size approximately a metre tall in the first half of the nineteenth century, it is famous for its. The birds of america 1937 hardcover january 1, 1937 5. Most hard cover books published since the early 20th century were sold with a dust jacket. The publishers of which i am aware include welcome rain, laurel glen, and wordsworth.

The 19th century masterpiece, replete with count em 435 handcolored illustrations, has long been considered a crucial document about u. The stokes essential pocket guide to the birds of north. The book was published in several editions between 1997 and 2000. The edition of birds of america by julius bien and john woodhouse audubon was discontinued due to the onset of the civil war.

Pocketsize, brilliantly colorful, and easy to use, the stokes essential pocket guide to the birds of north america contains everything you need to identify and enjoy birds in your backyard and beyond. About us we are an art gallery with over 50 years of experience focusing on the artwork of john james audubon, john gould, pierrejoseph redoute and other natural history artists. He was notable for his extensive studies documenting all types of american birds and for his detailed illustrations that depicted the birds in their natural habitats. Price new from used from hardcover, january 1, 1937 please retry. The birds of america is one of the best known natural history books ever produced and also the most valuable a complete set sold at auction in december 2010 for gbp7.

Of the 200 copies of the birds of america, only a handful is owned by individuals. Much of the first half of birds of america is a mary mccarthy uses peter as a naive mouthpiece for a lot of leftist thinking of the 1950s and 60s. Do not confuse this book with other books reproducing audubons birds of america with the same or similar title. This book mesures 5 18 x 3 14 and features 95 pages with color illustrations and descriptions of numerous birds. Featuring 275 stunning color plates, this book covers 262 species originating from three very different regionsthe old world, the new world tropics, and the worlds oceans. It was first published as a series in sections between 1827 and 1838, in edinburgh and london. A large heavy book, the birds of american, by john james audubon with an introduction and description text by william vogt, published by the macmillan company, 1937 book is packed full of. This book covers all the native and vagrant species of birds seen on the north american continent. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The birds of america is a book by naturalist and painter john james audubon, containing. This large hardbound book is filled with beautiful color reproductions of audubons bird paintings. Is this book rare, birds of america published in 1936.

Ashbrook author see all 3 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Printed between 1827 and 1838, it contains 435 lifesize watercolors of north american birds havell edition, all reproduced from handengraved plates, and is considered to be the archetype of wildlife illustration. Audubon prints birds of america original havell engravings. I picked up this little book from a local resale shop. Includes more than 100 portraits in full color by t. The brewers blackbird is the handsomest of all the blackbird race, but its love song is a rather ludicrous attempt at music making. Each book is available as a printed softcover book that ships to anywhere in the world, or as an internet adobe pdf download. As a result, fewer than 150 sets have survived, and original bien wild turkey chromolithographs cost thousands of dollars. Birds of america john james audubon bauman rare books. The second book is the pioneers and patriots or america by john s. Gilbert pearson and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. A book that has significant damage is likely not worth much.

His major work, a colorplate book entitled the birds of america 18271839, is considered one of the finest ornithological works ever completed. Abbott it has a signature and date on it from 1879 it was published by dodd and mead. The introduction to brewers blackbird is what sold me. A copy of the worlds most expensive book, john james audubons 19thcentury masterpiece birds of america, is set for auction later this month. Birds of america by gilbert pearson, first edition abebooks.

The birds of america by john james audubon, macmillan, 1942. The complete collection of 435 illustrations from the most famous bird book in the world john james audubon on. A rare copy of audubons birds of america heads to auction to. Visit this link to my shop to see my other old books, antiques and vintage treasures for.

How many copies were eventually printed is unknown, but it is thought to be no less than 170 and no more than 200. The lifes work of both a lover and observer of birds and nature. The birds of america by john james audubon alibris. The book called the complete birds of north america, is a book recommended to be part of any birders library. Original audubon havell edition produced 18261837 prints for sale. First edition of the birds of america by john james audubon, done by the philadelphia firm of j.

See all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Whether you want the cheapest reading copy or a specific collectible edition, with bookfinder, youll find just the right book. The original watercolor painting by john james audubon for the birds of america books, 2 volumes, published 1966 by american heritage publishing, new york. The birds of america from drawings made in the united states and their territories. Worlds most expensive book, birds of america, set to fetch.

My images of audubon is a very popular cdrom that contains all 500 images of the audubon 1st octavo edition of birds of america, along with audubons original text for each bird. Birds of america octavo editions 184071 there were up to eight different octavo editions, each containing 500 different hand colored stone lithographs. Ornithological biography, or an account of the habits of the birds of the united states of america. Nov 14, 2011 i have a book titled birds of america and below that title is the word audubon, this is on the spine of the book at the bottom of the spine are the numbers 598. See all formats and editions hide other formats and. Bird books north american birds birds of north america. Rare birds of north america is the first comprehensive illustrated guide to the vagrant birds that occur throughout the united states and canada. The introduction offers information about using the book an explanation of how birds are grouped a discussion of migratory ranges tips on identification a diagram. The birds of america is a book by naturalist and painter john james audubon, containing illustrations of a wide variety of birds of the united states. Not all of the specimens illustrated in the work were collected by audubon himself, some were sent to him by john kirk townsend who had collected them. Collecting the birds of america by audubon, john james first. A large heavy book, the birds of american, by john james audubon with an introduction and description text by william vogt, published by the macmillan company, 1937book is packed full of. Selections from the birds of america september 25, 2005 april 2, 2006 above.

Theres a good reason that the book commands such high. Mar, 2001 the book was published in several editions between 1997 and 2000. Despite its age published in 1931, it remains useful and charming. For example, as stated above, an unsigned copy of f. The blue book of birds of america paperback january 1, 1931 by frank g. Abebooks has been part of the rare book world since going live in 1996. This out of print book can be purchased for a very reasonable price. This is a pocket size paperback book, one of three in a series, which covers mostly perching birds and other woodlands birds.

What happened was that his fame, of course, rests on the birds of america, which was published in england between 1827 and 1838. Well known to book collectors and booklovers, our site is an excellent resource for discovering a rough value of an old book. The dust jacket is both the most decorative part of a book, and the most delicate. Vintage 1931 book, the green book of birds of america. Birds of america by audubon, first edition, macmillan abebooks. Since 1997, bookfinder has made it easy to find any book at the best price. The book is a sort of shambling explication of ideas supported by not so much a plot as a series of set pieces. It provides information on all the birds listed on the aba bird list. Bowen in 18401844 size is approximately 6 12 x 10 inches genuine audubon lithograph blue mountain warbler male pl.