Felix Benoist Prints and Multiples

This is an original 19th century John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "Le Contis Sharp-tailed Bunting, Male", No. 98, Plate 488 from Audubon's "Birds of America, litho...

This is an original 19th century John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "The Texan Turtle Dove, Male", No. 100, Plate 496 from Audubon's "Birds of America, lithographed,...

This is an original 19th century John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "Texan Lynx", No. 19, Plate XCII, 92, from Audubon's "Quadrupeds of North America", printed and colored by J.T. Bowen and published in Philadelphia from 1849-1854. The lithograph depicts a Texan Lynx laying on the ground with hills in the background. This antique hand colored Audubon quadruped lithograph is presented with the original descriptive text pages 293-296 from Audubon's 19th century publication. The print is in excellent condition, including the striking hand coloring. 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 "4128 Audubon, Purple Gallinule, Adult Male, Spring Plumage", No. 61, Plate 303 from Audubon's "B...

This is an original John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "Mango Humming bird, 1. 2. Males. 3. Female. Bignonia grandifolia", No. 51, Plate 251 from Audubon's "Birds of...

This is an original John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "Golden Eagle", No. 3, Plate 12 from Audubon's "Birds of America, lithographed, printed and colored by JT Bowe...

This 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...

This is an original John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "Reddish Egret, 1. Adult, Full Spring Plumage 2. Young in Full Spring Plumage Two Years Old", No. 75, Plate 371 from Audubon's "Birds of America, lithographed, printed and colored by J. T. Bowen and published in Philadelphia between 1870-1871. It depicts an adult reddish egret standing in the water with leg up, looking to the left at a young white egret standing on land looking to the right at the adult bird. A beautiful landscape is depicted. This original hand-colored Audubon egret...

This is a framed original 19th century hand-colored folio-sized lithograph entitled “Strix Flammea” (Barn Owl) by John Gould, from his "Birds of Great Britain", published in London between 1862 and 1873. The print depicts an adult Barn Owl perched on a log its three baby owls to the left. Another adult owl in the background on the right, presumably a male, watches over his family. There are leaves on the right contributing to this pleasant landscape composition. This striking framed Gould...

This is an original 19th century John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "4128 Audubon, Purple Gallinule, Adult Male, Spring Plumage", No. 61, Plate 303 from Audubon's "B...

An original rare and extremely collectible first edition John James Audubon hand colored royal octavo lithograph entitled "Trumpeter Swan, Young", No. 7...

This is an original 19th century John James Audubon hand-colored quadruped lithograph entitled "Dusky Squirrel", No. 24, Plate CXVII, from Audubon's "Quadrupeds of North America", dr...