The Birds Of America
by Audubon, John James
Written by naturalist John James
Audubon, the Birds of America is one of the most prized and collected
books of all time. In addition to the stunning colors and detail in
Audubon's work, it is noteworthy also because of its ambitious scope:
to paint every bird in North America. Six of the birds painted have
become extinct since its publication.
First Edition Identification
Originally published as a series of 425
loose hand-colored watercolor prints roughly 26 by 39 inches between
1827 and 1838, the Birds of America was collected in a five volume
folio edition in 1838 (called the Harvell Edition). Subsequent
editions were issued at a more affordable price in multi-volume
octavo editions. One hundred twenty copies of the first edition are
known to have survived complete, most now residing in institutions
and libraries. The most recently sold copy went to an anonymous
American collector at auction for $7.9 million in 2012.
Other Collectible or Notable Editions
Owing to its scarcity and desirability,
even the later printed first octavo editions (1840s) generally run
from $50,000-$100,000 and individual plates from the first folio
edition can easily cost $30,000.
However, despite - and in part owing to
- its immense popularity, collectibility and hefty price tag, more
accessible, collectible editions of Audubon's opus are available.
Later editions from the 1850s can often be had in nice condition for
four figures and individual prints from the octavo editions can be
found for a few thousand dollars. A morocco bound edition printed in
11 volumes by Volair Limited can present an attractive version of the
complete work for under $1,000.
Reviews
Review this book!
On Sep 14, 2016, Anonymous said
It is a very good book to bird watching with. He truly has a great eye for detail in his paintings. He has inspired me to draw the animals that I come in contact with while walking in the forest, around the Blue Ridge Mountains, at the coast, or where I may go or be at!
Available Copies
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The Birds of America
by John James Audubon
- Condition
- Used - Very Good+
- Edition
- 1941
- Published
- 1941
- Binding
- Board covered in brown buckram
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Keswick, Virginia, USA
- Item Price
-
€505.60
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Description:
Beautifully illustrated in full color folio size. This book is in excellent condition with some wear to points as is to be expected. Gilt stamped front cover. Insides of cover discolored due to age. Item Price
€505.60
BIRDS OF AMERICA [ Complete Set ]
by Audubon, John James
- Condition
- Used
- Edition
- First Edition Thus; Collector's Edition
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
CROTON-ON-HUDSON, New York, USA
- Item Price
-
€3,277.05
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Description:
Norwalk: Easton Press. First Edition Thus; Collector's Edition. Hardcover. Book condition is Near Fine, bound in full, genuine leather with gilt accents, 22kt gold page edges and a hubbed spine. Smyth sewn, interior vaunts moire end papers, acid-neutral paper (won't yellow or become brittle over time) and silk ribbon page marker. Text is clean and unmarked, still in factory… Read more about this item Item Price
€3,277.05
The Birds of America
by Audubon, John James
- Condition
- Used - Fine with no dust jacket
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 1937
- Binding
- Hard Cover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Lincoln City, Oregon, USA
- Item Price
-
€70.92
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Description:
New York: The Macmillan Co.. Fine with no dust jacket. 1937. First Edition. Hard Cover. Full sized dummy of the regular edition of the book. Accompanying is a letter from the manager of the trade department of MacMillan, to a bookshop in Dallas, Texas. The top of the letter, the fep, & the inside front… Read more about this item Item Price
€70.92
The Birds Of America
by Audubon , John James
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Published
- 1946
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Palestine, Texas, USA
- Item Price
-
€234.08
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Description:
The Macmillan Company, 1946. Hardcover. Very Good. This is a spectacular volume of 435 color prints ( 12in by 8 in . The interior of the book is in excellent condition and the prints are near fine . The cloth on the boards and the exterior page edges show soil and stains . The… Read more about this item Item Price
€234.08
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Birds of America
by Audubon, John James
- Condition
- Used - Excellent
- Jacket Condition
- Very good slipcase
- Edition
- 1st
- Published
- 2011-01-01
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN 10
- 0565092731
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Sidmouth, Devon, GBR
- Item Price
-
€1,162.99
Show Details
Description:
UK: The Natural History Museum, 2011-01-01. 1st. Hardcover. Excellent/Very good slipcase. 400 x 267 mm. Audubon, John James. NO. 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 £7.3 million, which is a world record.… Read more about this item Item Price
€1,162.99
Birds of America
by AUDUBON John James
- Condition
- Used
- Published
- 1856
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Item Price
-
€54,773.55
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Description:
1856. AUDUBON, John James. The Birds of America from Drawings Made in the United States and Their Territories. New York: V. G. Audubon, 1856-57. Seven volumes. Royal octavo, publisher's full brown morocco, elaborately decorated in blind, raised bands, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. $58,500.Second octavo edition, the first edition with fully colored backgrounds, containing 500 superb hand-colored plates.One of… Read more about this item Item Price
€54,773.55
THE BIRDS OF AMERICA
by John James Audubon
- Condition
- Used
- Edition
- Tenth Printing
- Published
- 1974
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
CROTON-ON-HUDSON, New York, USA
- Item Price
-
€42.13
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Description:
New York: MacMillan Company, 1974. Tenth Printing. Hardcover. Book condition is Very Good; with a Very Good- dust jacket. A few tears and creases to jacket edges. Text is unmarked, illustrated throughout. ; 4to 11" - 13" tall. Item Price
€42.13
Birds of America: The Complete Collection of 435 Illustrations from the Most Famous Bird Book in the World
by Audubon, John James
- Condition
- New
- Published
- 1997-10-01
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN 10
- 1571456120
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
San Diego, California, USA
- Item Price
-
€137.69
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Description:
Laurel Glen, 1997-10-01. Hardcover. New. New. In shrink wrap. Looks like an interesting title! Item Price
€137.69
Birds of America
by Audubon, John James
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN 10
- 1566491959
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
San Diego, California, USA
- Item Price
-
€292.96
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Description:
Welcome Rain Publishers. Hardcover. New. New. In shrink wrap. Looks like an interesting title! Item Price
€292.96
Birds of America
by John James Audubon
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Published
- 1985
- Binding
- ISBN 10
- 0025044508
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Newtown, New South Wales, AUS
- Item Price
-
€45.76
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Description:
New York & London: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1985 The dust jacket has a minimal wear. 515 pages. Books listed here are not stored at the shop. Please contact us if you want to pick up a book from Newtown.. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. Item Price
€45.76
Birds of America
by Audubon, John James
- Condition
- Used - Very Good+
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good Slipcase
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 2011-10-03
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN 10
- 1402789475
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Item Price
-
€234.08
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Description:
Sterling Publishing Company, 2011-10-03. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good+/Very Good Slipcase. 10x2x15. First thus. Sterling, 2011; First Printing with full number line; 448pp., profusely illustrated. Binding is tight, sturdy, and square; blind-stamped navy cloth boards in VG+ condition, corners sharp, stamped white titling on spine remains bold; illustrations and text very good throughout. Navy cloth slipcase in VG… Read more about this item Item Price
€234.08
The Birds of America.
by AUDUBON, John James.
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine in Near Fine dust jacket
- Published
- 1965
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
- Item Price
-
€42.13
Show Details
Description:
NY:: Macmillan Company,. Near Fine in Near Fine dust jacket. 1965. Hardcover. 435 color plates. With a foreword and descriptive captions by William Vogt. Seventh printing thus. Lightly bumped corners, else near fine in a near fine dust jacket. An attractive, well preserved copy. . Item Price
€42.13
The Birds of America by John James Audubon
by John James Audubon
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
South Lyon, Michigan, USA
- Item Price
-
€14.04
Show Details
Description:
Macmillan. Very Good. New York, 1974; tenth printing; green cloth covered boards; mild edge and corner wear; illustrated jacket in Bro-Dart like cover with edge wear and flaps taped to paste-downs; 4to - over 9 3/4" to 12" tall; coffee colored stain at fore-edge of second front end paper through plate 148; interior clean and unmarked; not paginated;… Read more about this item Item Price
€14.04
The Birds of America
by John James Audubon
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Yukon, Oklahoma, USA
- Item Price
-
€9.36
Show Details
Description:
Hardcover. Good. 4th printing, 1967. Would be very good, but for two things, 1: it has small stain on long page edges and even smaller one on bottom page edges. Probably the size of two pinheads side by side for larger. 2: If you just open the book you don't really notice, but if you fan the pages… Read more about this item Item Price
€9.36
The Birds of America
by John James Audubon
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- Missing
- Published
- 1977
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
South Lyon, Michigan, USA
- Item Price
-
€14.04
Show Details
Description:
Macmillan , 1977. Hardcover. Very Good/Missing. New York, 1977; smoky odor present; green cloth covered boards; mild edge and corner wear; front cover lightly scratched; dust jacket missing; Folio, 12 to 15 inches tall; interior clean and unmarked; 435 plates; Additional shipping charges may need to be requested due to size or weight of book. Item Price
€14.04
The Birds of America
by John James Audubon
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Near Fine
- Published
- 1985
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN 10
- 0025044508
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Diamond Springs, California, USA
- Item Price
-
€28.09
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Description:
MacMillan, 1985. NF/NF. Near fine hard cover in near fine dust jacket. A very clean, well cared for book. Full number line. Forward by Robert McCracken Peck. A very nice copy. Carefully wrapped and packaged in a padded box for safe shipping. WE ARE VERY SORRY, BUT DUE TO THE SIZE… Read more about this item Item Price
€28.09
The Birds of America
by John James Audubon
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Jacket Condition
- Fair
- Published
- January 2012
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN 10
- 1435142578
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Youngtown, Arizona, USA
- Item Price
-
€6.55
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Description:
Sterling, January 2012. Hardcover. Used - Good/Fair. Mild shelf wear on edges of dust jacket. Sticker from previous retailer on cover of dust jacket. Item Price
€6.55
Birds of America
by John James Audubon:
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good +
- Published
- 1997
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN 10
- 1853264911
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Montreal, Quebec, CAN
- Item Price
-
€65.49
Show Details
Description:
Ware: Wordsworth Editions, 1997., 1997. Hardcover. Near Fine/Very Good +. Hardcover book in near fine condition. Dust jacket very good+, in protective mylar. This book is oversized and may require additional shipping charges. Questions welcome. We ship internationally from the United States and Canada every week. If buying internationally, please be aware that additional charges may apply for… Read more about this item Item Price
€65.49
The Birds of America
by AUDUBON, John James
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- No Jacket
- Edition
- 3rd Edition
- Published
- 1961
- Binding
- Decorative Cloth
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Rowe, Massachusetts, USA
- Item Price
-
€14.93
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Description:
New York: MacMillan, 1961. 3rd Edition . Decorative Cloth. Very Good/No Jacket. 9 1/4" X 12 1/4." Unpaginated.A beautiful coffee-table size book with green boards and a silver drawing of a turkey on the cover. All pages bright and clean. Spine ends bumped with lightly worn corners. Book is slightly canted.
Item Price
€14.93
The Birds of America
by John James Audubon
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 1947-12-01
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN 10
- 0025044400
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
HOUSTON, Texas, USA
- Item Price
-
€14.48
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Description:
MacMillan Publishing Company, 1947-12-01. Hardcover. Good. Item Price
€14.48