Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 6

John James Audubon
"Grizzly Bear", an Original 19th C. Audubon Hand Colored Quadruped Lithograph

1849-1856

$875
£676.09
€781.62
CA$1,236.44
A$1,386.75
CHF 726.22
MX$16,850.34
NOK 9,221.76
SEK 8,742.87
DKK 5,834.41

About the Item

This is an original John James Audubon hand-colored royal octavo lithograph entitled "Grizzly Bear", No. 27, Plate CXXXI from Audubon's "Quadrupeds of North America". It was drawn on stone by William Hitchcock, printed and colored by J. T. Bowen and published in 1849-1854. It depicts two grizzly bears in a beautiful landscape with mountains in the background. The larger bear, presumably the male is standing, while the female is lying on the ground. This original hand-colored Audubon quadruped lithograph's sheet measures 7" high and 10.38" wide. There is a small spot in the lower inscription area, a tiny linear mark in the lower margin on the left, and remnants of the original binding along the upper edge, but the print is otherwise in excellent condition. The descriptive text pages, 141-152, 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:
    1849-1856
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 7 in (17.78 cm)Width: 10.38 in (26.37 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Framing:
    Framing Options Available
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Alamo, CA
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: # 18691stDibs: LU1173216477702

More From This Seller

View All
American Black Bear: Original 19th C. Audubon Hand Colored Quadruped Lithograph
By John James Audubon
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an original John James Audubon hand-colored royal octavo lithograph entitled "American Black Bear", No. 29, Plate CXLI from Audubon's "Quadrupeds of North America". It was dr...
Category

Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

"The Cougar", an Original 19th C. Audubon Hand Colored Quadruped Lithograph
By John James Audubon
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an original John James Audubon hand-colored royal octavo lithograph entitled "The Cougar, Male", No. 20, Plate XCVI, 96 from Audubon's "Quadrupeds of North America". It was d...
Category

Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

"Prairie Wolf": An Original Audubon 19th Century Hand-colored Lithograph
By John James Audubon
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an original John James Audubon hand-colored royal octavo lithograph entitled "Prairie Wolf", No. 15, Plate LXXI, 71 from Audubon's "Quadrupeds of North America". It was drawn...
Category

Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Townsend's Arvicola: Original 19th Cent. Hand-colored Lithograph by Audubon
By John James Audubon
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an original John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "Townsend's Arvicola; Sharp-nosed Arvicola; Bank Rat", No. 31, Plate CXLIV from John James Audubon's Quadruped...
Category

Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Raccoon: An Original 19th Century Audubon Hand-colored Lithograph
By John James Audubon
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an original 19th century John James Audubon hand colored lithograph entitled "Raccoon", No. 13, Plate LXI, 61, from Audubon's "Quadrupeds of North America", printed and color...
Category

Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Original Audubon Hand Colored Lithograph of "The Sewellel"
By John James Audubon
Located in Alamo, CA
An original John James Audubon hand colored lithograph entitled "The Sewellel", No. 25, Plate CXXIII, from John James Audubon's Quadrupeds of Nort...
Category

Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

You May Also Like

19th-Century Lithograph of a Raccoon and Bear – Stunning Natural History Print
Located in Langweer, NL
19th-Century Lithograph of a Raccoon and Bear – Stunning Natural History Print This finely executed 19th-century lithograph presents a striking depiction of a raccoon (De waschbee...
Category

Antique 1830s Prints

Materials

Paper

Mammals Print: Bears, Fox, Otter & Skunk – Antique Hand-Coloured 1867
Located in Langweer, NL
Mammals Print: Bears, Fox, Otter & Skunk – Antique Hand-Coloured 1867 This beautiful antique print presents a detailed study of various mammals including bears, foxes, otters, and o...
Category

Antique 1860s German Prints

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of a Brown Bear, 1847 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a brown bear. Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after captain brown with original hand color. ...
Category

Antique 1840s English Folk Art Prints

Materials

Paper

The Bear - Original Lithograph on Paper by E. Laport - 1860
Located in Roma, IT
The Bear is an original lithograph on paper, realized by E.Laport in about 1860. The state of preservation is good except for some diffused stains. Hand-colored. Plate No.9 Shee...
Category

1860s Figurative Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Zoology Print of Bears, Foxes, Skunks and Mustelids by T Bromme, circa 1865
Located in Langweer, NL
Zoology Print of Bears, Foxes, Skunks and Mustelids by T Bromme, circa 1865 Description: This finely hand-colored 19th-century zoological print is attributed to German geographer an...
Category

Antique 1860s German Prints

Materials

Paper

A Bear, Hand-Colored Print From The Early 1800s by Johan Wilhelm Palmstruch
By Johan Wilhelm Palmstruch
Located in Stockholm, SE
Johan Wilhelm Palmstruch (1770-1811) Sweden Title: A Bear hand-coloured print early 1800s print dimensions approx 4.33 x 7.08 inches (11 x 18 cm) frame 11.81 x 15.74 inches (30 ...
Category

Early 19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints

Materials

Color