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Audubon's Birds of America

9781398859197
384 pages
Arcturus Publishing Limited
Overview

This beautiful new edition includes all 435 of Audubon's images, presented with printed edges and gold blocking. The birds are arranged in their modern taxonomic order as agreed by the International Ornithological Congress (IOC). The set of plates is accompanied by a full index of the birds, including the name given by Audubon, their modern name and scientific name. A superb gift edition for anyone interested in birds and art.

Naturalist and painter John James Audubon published his magnificent work on the birds of North America over 11 years between 1827 and 1838, in Edinburgh and London. The work contained 435 hand-colored, life-size prints, created from engraved plates. The original edition of The Birds of America, sometimes called the 'Double Elephant Folio', because of its size was printed on handmade paper 39.5 inches tall by 28.5 inches (99 by 66 cm) wide. The principal printing technique was copperplate etching, but engraving and aquatint were also used.

ABOUT THE SERIES: Arcturus Epic Classics brings together stunning large-format hardback editions of classic works, presented with striking illustrated page edges and classic illustrations throughout.

Author Bio
John James Audubon (1785-1851) was a self-taught artist, naturalist and celebrated ornithologist. Born in Haiti and raised in France, Audubon emigrated to North America when he was 18 years old to avoid conscription into the Napoleonic wars. For many years he worked as a trading merchant, before turning to his true passion: ornithology. Audubon spent many years travelling the North American continent, identifying and recording bird species. The book he published of his research, The Birds of America was an immediate success, with Audubon becoming a household name in the nineteenth century. It is still considered to be one of the greatest works of ornithology ever created.