Items Similar to Virginian Rail: An Original 19th C. Audubon Hand-colored Bird Lithograph
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 5
John James AudubonVirginian Rail: An Original 19th C. Audubon Hand-colored Bird Lithograph 1856
1856
About the Item
This is an original 19th century John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "Virginian Rail, 1. Male, 2. Female, 3. Young", No. 63, Plate 311 from Audubon's "Birds of America, lithographed, printed and colored by J. T. Bowen and published in Philadelphia in 1856. It depicts an adult male and female Virginian Rails standing on ground, while a young rail lies on the ground to the right. Foliage augments this beautiful landscape scene.
This original hand-colored Virginian Rail lithograph is in very good condition, other than tiny spots in the margins. The image is in excellent condition. The sheet measures 6.63" high by 10.38" wide. The descriptive text pages 174-179 from Audubon's original 19th century publication are included.
John James Audubon (1785-1851) was a naturalist and artist. He was initially unsuccessful financially prior to the publication of his famous work “The Birds of America”, spending time in debtor’s prison, once stabbing a disgruntled investor in self-defense. However, his obsession with birds and art motivated him to persist in his goal of documenting every bird in America via his watercolor paintings and publishing his works for all to enjoy. Audubon's first illustrations were published in a large elephant folio size. Due to their expense they were purchased in rather small numbers by the wealthy. To reach a larger audience, Audubon, with the help of his sons and J. T. Bowen, published a smaller octavo sized lithograph version, which were much more affordable.
With the success of his bird projects, Audubon then turned his attention to four-legged animals. He explored the Missouri River in 1843 sketching the four-legged animals he encountered in their natural setting. His expedition covered some of the same regions recently explored by Lewis and Clark, traveling from present day Alaska to Mexico. Audubon realized that this was an opportunity to document these animals in the still relatively pristine American wilderness, before man encroached on their environment.
Between 1845 and 1848, Audubon and his sons John Woodhouse Audubon and Victor Gifford Audubon produced a set of elephant folio sized lithographs that were primarily engraved and hand colored by J. T. Bowen in Philadelphia. The publication, which included text descriptions of the animals was published 3 years before Audubon died. As with the birds, this was followed by a three-volume set of 155 octavo-sized plates entitled “The Quadrupeds of North America” completed and published by Audubon’s sons, John, Jr. and Victor.
Audubon prints continue to be popular and a wise investment. The double elephant folio set “The Birds of America” have sold at auction for as much as $8.8 million, and individual plates may sell for six figures. The beautiful octavo sized plates are not as expensive, but becoming more sought after, as the folio bird plates become unattainable to all but the very wealthy.
- Creator:John James Audubon (1785-1851, American, French)
- Creation Year:1856
- Dimensions:Height: 6.63 in (16.85 cm)Width: 10.38 in (26.37 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Framing:Framing Options Available
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:Alamo, CA
- Reference Number:
About the Seller
5.0
Vetted Seller
These experienced sellers undergo a comprehensive evaluation by our team of in-house experts.
Established in 2011
1stDibs seller since 2019
233 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Alamo, CA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
More From This SellerView All
- Rocky Mountain Flycatcher: Original 19th C. Audubon Hand-colored Bird LithographBy John James AudubonLocated in Alamo, CAThis is an original 19th century John James Audubon hand-colored 1st octavo edition lithograph entitled "Rocky Mountain Flycatcher, Male, Swamp Oak. Quecus Aquatica", No. 12, Plate 6...Category
Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- Hummingbirds: 19th C. Gould Hand-colored "Cyanifrons", Blue-capped SaucerottiaBy John Gould and Henry Constantine RichterLocated in Alamo, CAThis is a hand-colored folio sized lithograph entitled "Saucerottia Cyanifrons", Blue-capped Saucerottia Hummingbirds by John Gould, published in his "A Monograph of the Trochilidae, or Family of Humming-birds", published in London in 1850. The print, which was drawn by Gould and Henry Richter and lithographed by Hullmandel and Walton, depicts two green, blue and a little brown colored hummingbirds about a plant with green leaves and pink flowers. This beautiful Gould hand-colored hummingbird lithograph has a few very small faint spots, but it is otherwise in excellent condition. The original text page is included. There are other unframed Gould hummingbird...Category
Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- Eagle or Horned Owl: A Framed Original 19th C. Hand-colored Lithograph by GouldBy John Gould and Henry Constantine RichterLocated in Alamo, CAThis is a framed original 19th century hand-colored folio-sized lithograph entitled “Bubo Maximus" (Great Horned or Eagle Owl) by John Gould, from the supplement to his "Birds of Great Britain", published in London between 1862 and 1873. The print depicts an adult Eagle Owl about to feed her brood of babies who are in the their nest. A another adult (possibly the male) is seen in the distant background in the upper right. This striking framed Gould...Category
Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- Caribou or American Reindeer: Original 19th C. Audubon Hand-colored LithographBy John James AudubonLocated in Alamo, CAThis is an original 19th century John James Audubon hand-colored quadruped lithograph entitled "Caribou or American Rein Deer", No. 26, Plate CXXVI, from Audubon's "Quadrupeds of Nor...Category
Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- Cinnamon Bear: An Original 19th Century Audubon Hand-colored LithographBy John James AudubonLocated in Alamo, CAThis is an original 19th century John James Audubon hand colored lithograph entitled "Cinnamon Bear", No. 26, Plate CXXVII, 127 from Audubon's "Quadrupeds of North America", printed ...Category
Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo: An Original 1st Ed. Audubon Hand-colored Bird LithographBy John James AudubonLocated in Alamo, CAThis is an original 1st octavo edition John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 1. Male, 2, Female, Papaw Tree", No. 55, Plate 275 from Audubon's "B...Category
Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints
MaterialsLithograph
You May Also Like
- Dalmation & Bull TerrierLocated in Columbia, MODalmation & Bull Terrier 1883-84 Chromolithograph 8.5 x 11 inchesCategory
1880s Naturalistic Animal Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- Terriers No. 1Located in Columbia, MOTerriers No. 1 1883-84 Chromolithograph 8.5 x 11 inchesCategory
1880s Naturalistic Animal Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- DachsundsLocated in Columbia, MODachsunds 1883-84 Chromolithograph 8.5 x 11 inchesCategory
1880s Naturalistic Animal Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- American Crow 1858 Chromolithograph by J.J. Audubon Plate, Julius Bien EditionBy John James AudubonLocated in Paonia, COAmerican Crow by J.J. Audubon from his Birds of America folio shows an adult male crow in a Black Walnut bush with a nest of a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird in a branch below the crow. This original chromolithograph plate no. 226 is in good condition with a repairable water mark in the image on the left side as can be seen in the photos. The ” Birds of America” by John James...Category
1850s Naturalistic Animal Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- Terriers No. 2Located in Columbia, MOTerriers No. 2 1883-84 Chromolithograph 8.5 x 11 inchesCategory
1880s Naturalistic Animal Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- New BeginningsBy Joseph RaffaelLocated in San Francisco, CAArtist: Joseph Raffael (American, 1933-2021) Title: New Beginnings Date: 1982 Medium: Color lithograph Sheet size: 33.5 x 31.75 inches Framed Size 38 x ...Category
1980s Naturalistic Landscape Prints
MaterialsLithograph