Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 5

John James Audubon
Townsend's Shrew Mole: Original 19th Century Audubon Lithograph

1849-1854

$95
£73.40
€84.86
CA$134.24
A$150.56
CHF 78.85
MX$1,829.47
NOK 1,001.22
SEK 949.23
DKK 633.45

About the Item

This is an original 19th century John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "Townsend's Shrew Mole", No. 29, Plate CXLV, from Audubon's "Quadrupeds of North America", printed and colored by J.T. Bowen and published in Philadelphia from 1849-1856. The print depicts a group of three shrew moles in a beautiful landscape scene with high grass and leafy plants behind them and mountains in the distance on the right. This antique hand-colored Audubon quadruped lithograph is presented with the original descriptive text pages, 217-219 from Audubon's original 19th century publication. There is a very faint smudge in the lower inscription area on the right, a tiny faint spot in the left margin and a small spot over the sky on the right, but the print is otherwise in very good condition. The sheet measures 7" high and 10.38" wide. 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, but less well-known quadruped plates are not as expensive, but becoming more sought after, as the birds become unattainable to all but the very wealthy.
  • Creator:
    John James Audubon (1785-1851, American, French)
  • Creation Year:
    1849-1854
  • 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: # 20701stDibs: LU1173216477912

More From This Seller

View All
"Northern Meadow Mouse" an Audubon Hand Colored by J.T. Bowen Lithograph
By John James Audubon
Located in Alamo, CA
An original 19th century John James Audubon hand colored lithograph entitled "Northern Meadow Mouse", No. 26, Plate CXXIX, 129, from Audubon's "Quadrupeds of North America", printed ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Camas Rat (Gopher): An Original 19th Century Hand-colored Lithograph by Audubon
By John James Audubon
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an original John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "The Camas Rat" (Gopher), No. 29, Plate CXLII from John James Audubon's Quadrupeds of North America, published...
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

Canada Pouched Rat: An Original 19th Century Hand-colored Lithograph by Audubon
By John James Audubon
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an original John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "Canada Pouched Rat", No. 9, Plate XLIV from John James Audubon's Quadrupeds of North America, published in Ph...
Category

Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Black Rat, Old & Young: A 1st Octavo Edition Audubon Hand-colored 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 "Black Rat, Old and Young", No. 5, Plate XXIII, 23, from Audubon's "Quadrupeds...
Category

Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Florida Rat Family: An Original 19th Century Hand-colored Lithograph by Audubon
By John James Audubon
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an original John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "Florida Rat", No. 1, Plate IV", from John James Audubon's Quadrupeds of North America, published in Philadelp...
Category

Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

You May Also Like

Moles, Shrews, and Burrowing Mammals from 'The Mammals' Natural History, 1836
Located in Langweer, NL
Moles, Shrews, and Burrowing Mammals from 'The Mammals' Natural History Lithographs Here is a detailed description of the two lithographs, which focus on moles and related species. ...
Category

Antique 1830s Prints

Materials

Paper

MISSOURI MOUSE - Large Folio "The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America" Pl.100
By After John James Audubon
Located in Santa Monica, CA
(After) JOHN JAMES AUDUBON (1785 - 1851) MISSOURI MOUSE, 1846 - Plate 100 (C) No. 20 Lithograph with original hand coloring. From Audubon's "The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America...
Category

1840s American Realist Landscape Prints

Materials

Lithograph

The Mouse - Lithograph by Paul Gervais - 1854
By Paul Gervais
Located in Roma, IT
The Mouse is an original lithograph on ivory-colored paper, realized by Paul Gervais (1816-1879). The artwork is from The Series of "Les Trois Règnes de la N...
Category

1850s Modern Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph, Paper

The Mouse - Lithograph by Paul Gervais - 1854
By Paul Gervais
Located in Roma, IT
The Mouse is an original lithograph on ivory-colored paper, realized by Paul Gervais (1816-1879). The artwork is from The Series of "Les Trois Règnes de la N...
Category

1850s Modern Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph, Paper

The Mouse - Original Lithograph by Paul Gervais - 1854
By Paul Gervais
Located in Roma, IT
The Mouse is an original lithograph on ivory-colored paper, realized by Paul Gervais (1816-1879). The artwork is from The Series of "Les Trois Règnes de la Nature", and was published...
Category

1850s Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Lithograph

19th century color lithograph hare landscape grass animal print wildlife
By John James Audubon
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Worm-Wood Hare" is an original color lithograph by John James Audubon. It depicts three brown rabbits in a landscape. No. 18, Plate LXXXVIII, On Stone by W.E. Hitchcock. 6" x 8" ar...
Category

1840s Other Art Style Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph