Lithograph Animal Prints

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...

"Northern Hare" is an original color lithograph by John James Audubon. This piece depicts a white rabbit in a cool green landscape. 5 3/4" x 7 3/4" art...

Artist: John James Audubon (American, 1785-1851) Title: "Florida Cormorant" (Plate 417, No. 84) Portfolio: The Birds of America, First Royal Octavo Edition Year: 1840-1844 Medium: Original Hand-Colored Lithograph on wove paper Limited edition: approx. 1,200 Printer: John T. Bowen, Philadelphia, PA Publisher: John James Audubon and J.B. Chevalier, New York, NY and Philadelphia, PA Sheet size: 6.5" x 10.44" Image size: 3.75" x 6.25" Condition: Some minor discoloration upper center in margin. In excellent condition with strong colors Notes: Provenance: private collection - Cleveland, OH. Lithography and hand-coloring by American artist John T. Bowen (1801-c.1856). Comes from Audubon's famous seven volume portfolio "The Birds of America", First Royal Octavo Edition (1840-1844), which consists of 500 hand-colored lithographs. Based on a composition painted in the Florida Keys on April 26, 1832, Audubon's forty-seventh birthday. The double-crested cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) is a member of the cormorant family of water birds. It is found near rivers and lakes and in coastal areas and is widely distributed across North America, from the Aleutian Islands in Alaska down to Florida and Mexico. Measuring 70–90 cm (28–35 in) in length, it is entirely black except for a bare patch of orange-yellow facial skin and some extra plumage that it exhibits in the breeding season when it grows a double crest in which black feathers are mingled with white. Five subspecies are recognized. It mainly eats fish and hunts by swimming and diving. Its feathers, like all cormorants, are not waterproof, and it must dry them out after spending time in the water. Once threatened by the use of DDT, the numbers of this bird have increased markedly in recent years. To make 'The Birds of America' more affordable and widely available, in 1839 John James Audubon began the first octavo edition, a smaller version of the folio which was printed and hand-colored by J. T. Bowen in Philadelphia. Employing a new invention, the camera lucida, the images were reduced in size, rendered in intermediate drawings by John James Audubon and his son John Woodhouse, and then drawn onto lithographic stones. These miniatures exhibit a remarkable amount of attention to quality and detail, as well as a meticulous fidelity to the larger works. Some compositional changes were made in order to accommodate the smaller format. Like the Havell edition, John James Audubon’s first...

An original rare and extremely collectible first edition John James Audubon hand colored royal octavo lithograph entitled "Golden Eye Duck", No. 82, Plate 406, 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 male and female Golden Eye ducks in flight. This original rare first edition hand colored Audubon bird lithograph is in excellent condition. The sheet measures 6.25" x 10". The original text pages, pages 362-366, from Audubon's 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...

This is an original 19th century John James Audubon hand colored lithograph entitled "American Badger", No. 10, Plate XLVII, 47, from Audubon's "Quadrupeds of North America", printed...

This is an original John James Audubon hand-colored royal first octavo edition lithograph entitled "King Duck, 1. Male, 2. Female", No. 81, Plate 404, from A...

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...

The Golden Winged Woodpecker, Plate 273 Picus auratus, Linn. The current name, Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratus. is in good condition. The edges are ragged from age with small areas of paper missing in two places but only on the very edge. The ” Birds of America” by John James...

This is an original rare first octavo edition John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "Canada Grouse, 1. 2 Males, 3. Females, 4. Trillium pic...

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...

This is an original 19th century John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "Hare Indian Dog", No. 27, Plate CXXXII, 132, from Audubon's "Quadruped...

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 Philadelph...

This is an original 1st octavo edition John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "Black-billed Cuckoo, 1. Male, 2, Female, Magnolia Grandiflora", No. 56, Plate 276 from Audubon's "Birds of America, lithographed, printed and colored by J. T. Bowen and published in Philadelphia between 1840-1844. It depicts a female black-billed cuckoo perched on a branch of a magnolia tree reaching for a flying insect. The male appears to be in flight in front of magnolia leaves on the right, perhaps after the same insect. Magnolia flowers are depicted, as well. This original 1st octavo edition hand-colored Audubon Black-billed Cuckoo lithograph is in excellent condition, other than a few tiny spots in the upper margin and a tiny faint spot in the lower inscription area. The sheet measures 6.5" high by 10.13" wide. The original text pages, 300-302, 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 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...

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 ...

This is an original John James Audubon hand-colored royal first octavo edition lithograph entitled "Semipalmated Snipe, Willet or Stone Curlew, 1. ...

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...

Artist: John James Audubon (American, 1785-1851) Title: "Yellow Shanks Snipe (South Carolina)" (Plate 344, No. 69) Portfolio: The Birds of America, First Royal Octavo Edition Year: 1840-1844 Medium: Original Hand-Colored Lithograph on wove paper Limited edition: approx. 1,200 Printer: John T. Bowen, Philadelphia, PA Publisher: John James Audubon and J.B. Chevalier, New York, NY and Philadelphia, PA Framing: Framed in a faux wood moulding with fabric matting and gold filet Framed size: 11.25" x 14.25" Sheet size: approx. 10" x 6.5" Image size: 5.13" x 8.5" Condition: Some wear to framing. In otherwise very good condition with strong colors Notes: Provenance: private collection - St. Louis, MO. Lithography and hand-coloring by American artist John T. Bowen (1801-c.1856). Comes from Audubon's famous seven volume portfolio "The Birds of America", First Royal Octavo Edition (1840-1844), which consists of 500 hand-colored lithographs. Based on a composition probably painted near Charleston in 1832. The exceptionally beautiful depiction of the marshy habitat is the work of Audubon's assistant, George Lehman. The lesser yellowlegs is a medium-sized shorebird. The genus name Tringa is the New Latin name given to the green sandpiper by Aldrovandus in 1599 based on Ancient Greek trungas, a thrush-sized, white-rumped, tail-bobbing wading...

Two adult Purple Martins are feeding their two fledglings at the nest. This chromolithograph is from The Birds of America by John James Audubon and is ...

Artist: John James Audubon (American, 1785-1851) Title: "Ivory Gull" (Plate 445, No. 89) Portfolio: The Birds of America, First Royal Octavo Editi...

Artist: John James Audubon (American, 1785-1851) Title: "Booby Gannet" (Plate 426, No. 86) Portfolio: The Birds of America, First Royal Octavo Edition Year: 1840-1844 Medium: Original Hand-Colored Lithograph on wove paper Limited edition: approx. 1,200 Printer: John T. Bowen, Philadelphia, PA Publisher: John James Audubon and J.B. Chevalier, New York, NY and Philadelphia, PA Sheet size: 10.38" x 6.75" Image size: 5.94" x 5.5" Condition: Two small tears at top edge. In otherwise excellent condition with strong colors Notes: Provenance: private collection - Seattle, WA. Lithography and hand-coloring by American artist John T. Bowen (1801-c.1856). Comes from Audubon's famous seven volume portfolio "The Birds of America", First Royal Octavo Edition (1840-1844), which consists of 500 hand-colored lithographs. Based on a composition painted May 14, 1832. Audubon wrote: "I am unable to find a good reason for those who have chosen to call these birds 'boobies'. Authors, it is true, generally represent them as extremely stupid; but to me the word is utterly inapplicable to any bird with which I am acquainted". The view of the Florida Keys is based on a drawing by George Lehman. The bird family Sulidae comprises the gannets and boobies. Collectively called sulids, they are medium-large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish and similar prey. The 10 species in this family are often considered congeneric in older sources, placing all in the genus Sula. To make 'The Birds of America' more affordable and widely available, in 1839 John James Audubon began the first octavo edition, a smaller version of the folio which was printed and hand-colored by J. T. Bowen in Philadelphia. Employing a new invention, the camera lucida, the images were reduced in size, rendered in intermediate drawings by John James Audubon and his son John Woodhouse, and then drawn onto lithographic stones. These miniatures exhibit a remarkable amount of attention to quality and detail, as well as a meticulous fidelity to the larger works. Some compositional changes were made in order to accommodate the smaller format. Like the Havell edition, John James Audubon’s first...

Artist: John James Audubon (American, 1785-1851) Title: "Herring or Silvery Gull" (Plate 448, No. 90) Portfolio: The Birds of America, First Royal Octavo Edition Year: 1840-1844 Medi...

Artist: John James Audubon (American, 1785-1851) Title: "Key-West Dove" (Plate 282, No. 57) Portfolio: The Birds of America, First Royal Octavo Edition Year: 1840-1844 Medium: Origin...

Artist: John James Audubon (American, 1785-1851) Title: "Glaucus Gull - Burgomaster" (Plate 449, No. 90) Portfolio: The Birds of America, First Royal Octavo Edition...