Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 3

John James Audubon
Long-billed Curlew Bird: Original 1st Edition Audubon Hand Colored Lithograph

1840

$2,975
£2,212.90
€2,590.87
CA$4,151.14
A$4,645.24
CHF 2,425.52
MX$57,108.35
NOK 30,600.79
SEK 28,795.19
DKK 19,329.84
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

An original rare and extremely collectible first edition John James Audubon hand colored lithograph entitled "Long-billed Curlew", No. 71, Plate 355, from Audubon's "Birds of America. It was lithographed, printed and colored by J. T. Bowen and published in Philadelphia between 1840-1844. It depicts a male and a female Long-billed Curlew standing on a grassy mound with water and the city of Charleston, South Carolina in the background. This original rare first edition hand colored Audubon bird lithograph is in excellent condition other than a very small area of discoloration in the left lower corner of the sheet and a 2 mm paper loss at the upper edge of the sheet. The sheet measures 6.63" x 10". 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:
    1840
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 6.63 in (16.85 cm)Width: 10 in (25.4 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Framing:
    Framing Options Available
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Alamo, CA
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 21101stDibs: LU117325962812

More From This Seller

View All
"Esquimaux Curlew": A Framed Original Audubon Hand-colored Folio Engraving
By John James Audubon
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an original hand-colored folio edition John James Audubon engraving entitled "Esquimaux Curlew", Folio, Pl. CCVIII", No. 42, Plate 208, from Audubon's "Birds of America". It was engraved, printed and colored in London by Robert Havell, Jr. in 1834. It depicts a male and a female Esquimaux Curlew birds...
Category

Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints

Materials

Engraving

Willet or Stone Curlew: A First Octavo Edition Audubon Hand-colored Lithograph
By John James Audubon
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an original John James Audubon hand-colored royal first octavo edition lithograph entitled "Semipalmated Snipe, Willet or Stone Curlew, 1. ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Hudsonian Godwit 19th C. 1st Octavo Edition Audubon Hand-colored Bird Lithograph
By John James Audubon
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an original 19th century John James Audubon hand-colored 1st octavo edition lithograph entitled "Hudsonian Godwit, 1. Male, 2. Female, Summer Plumage", No. 70, Plate 349 from...
Category

Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Scolopaceous Courlan: An Original 19th C. Audubon Hand-colored Bird Lithograph
By John James Audubon
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an original 19th century John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "Scolopaceous Courlan", No. 63, Plate 312 from Audubon's "Birds of America, lithographed, printed...
Category

Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

American Bittern: An Original 1st Ed. Audubon Hand-colored Bird Lithograph
By John James Audubon
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an original 19th century 1st octavo edition John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "American Bittern, 1. Male 2. Female", No. 73, Plate 365 from Audubon's "Birds of America, lithographed, printed and colored by J. T. Bowen and published in Philadelphia between 1840-1844. It depicts male and female American Bittern birds standing on the ground, each looking in opposite directions. There is high grass in the background. This original 1st octavo edition hand-colored Audubon American Bittern lithograph is in excellent condition, other than a few tiny spots, which appear most likely inclusions related to the paper manufacture. The sheet measures 6.5" high by 10.25" wide. The original text pages, 94-98, from Audubon's 19th century publication are included with the lithograph. 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...
Category

Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Red-breasted Rail: An Original 19th C. Audubon Hand-colored Bird Lithograph
By John James Audubon
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an original 19th century John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "Great Red-breasted Rail or Fresh Water Marsh Hen, 1. Male Adult, 2. Young", No. 62, Plate 309 fr...
Category

Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

You May Also Like

Long-Billed Curlew after John James Audubon, Amsterdam Edition
By John James Audubon
Located in New York, NY
Plate CCXXXI, Long-billed Curlew, posthumous reproduction after John James Audubon from The Birds of America, the Amsterdam Edition, printed in Amsterdam, 1971-73. Original multicolored photo-offset print. "G Schut and Zonen" watermark at lower edge of paper. A facsimile from the double-elephant folio...
Category

1970s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Paper

Long-billed Curlew (City of Charleston) /// Ornithology John James Audubon Bird
By John James Audubon
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: John James Audubon (American, 1785-1851) Title: "Long-billed Curlew (City of Charleston)" (Plate 355, No. 71) Portfolio: The Birds of America, First Royal Octavo Edition...
Category

1840s Victorian Animal Prints

Materials

Watercolor, Lithograph

Antique Hand-Colored Bird Print of the Pygmy Curlew by Gould, 1832
By John Gould
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique bird print titled 'Pigmy Curlew'. Old bird print depicting the pygmy curlew. This print originates from 'Birds of Europe' by J. Gould (1832-1837). Artists and Engravers: ...
Category

Antique 19th Century Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Bird Print of the Eurasian Curlew by Sepp & Nozeman, 1789
By J.C. Sepp, Cornelius Nozeman, M. Houttuyn
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'Scolopax, Arquata, Numenius'. The Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata) is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae. It is one of the most widespread of the curlew...
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Prints

Materials

Paper

Curlew - Woodcut Print by Alexander Francis Lydon - 1870
Located in Roma, IT
Curlew is a modern artwork realized in 1870 by the British artist Alexander Francis Lydon (1836-1917). Woodcut print on ivory-colored paper. Hand-colored, published by London, Bell...
Category

1870s Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Woodcut

Antique Bird Print of the Common Curlew by Von Wright, 1929
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique bird print titled 'Numenius Arquatus'. Old bird print depicting the Common Curlew. This print originates from 'Svenska Foglar Efter Naturen Och Pa Stenritade' by Magnus von W...
Category

20th Century Prints

Materials

Paper