Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 15

John James Audubon
Mallard /// John James Audubon Ducks Waterfowl Bird Ornithology Lithograph Art

1840-1844

$2,200
£1,682.61
€1,925.59
CA$3,131.20
A$3,390.18
CHF 1,802.40
MX$40,887.92
NOK 22,666.24
SEK 21,131.39
DKK 14,381.68

About the Item

Artist: John James Audubon (American, 1785-1851) Title: "Mallard" (Plate 385, No. 77) 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: 6.57" x 10.25" Image size: 5" x 8" Condition: One minor crease upper center near edge. Some faint tape stains on verso. In otherwise excellent condition with strong colors Rare Notes: Provenance: private collection - Pikesville, MD. 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. The preceding 1834 Havell edition of this work has a slightly different title: "Mallard Duck", (Plate: CCXXI - 221, No. 45). Based on a composition painted in Louisiana or Mississippi between 1821 and 1825. "The Duck at home is the descendant of a race of slaves ... But the freeborn, the untamed duck of the swamps - see how he springs on wing, and hies away over the woods." The mallard or wild duck is a dabbling duck that breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa. It has been introduced to New Zealand, Australia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, the Falkland Islands, and South Africa. 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 octavo edition was sold by subscription and distributed in parts, five at a time. However, the octavo editions were issued in proper phylogenic, or species order. These prints also bear the plate number in the upper right-hand corner and the subscription number in the upper left. The first edition of approximately 1,200 sets was completed in five years from 1839 to 1844. A total of 500 images comprise the First Royal Octavo Edition. Biography: John James Audubon (April 26, 1785, Les Cayes, Saint-Domingue (later Haiti) – January 27, 1851 (aged 65) Manhattan, New York, U.S.), born Jean-Jacques Audubon, was an American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter. He was notable for his expansive studies to document all types of American birds and for his detailed illustrations that depicted the birds in their natural habitats. His major work, a color-plate book entitled The Birds of America (1827–1839), is considered one of the finest ornithological works ever completed. Audubon identified 25 new species.
  • Creator:
    John James Audubon (1785-1851, American, French)
  • Creation Year:
    1840-1844
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 6.57 in (16.69 cm)Width: 10.25 in (26.04 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Saint Augustine, FL
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU121217180632

More From This Seller

View All
Eared Grebe /// John James Audubon Ornithology Havell Edition Bird Animal Art
By John James Audubon
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: John James Audubon (American, 1785-1851) Title: "Eared Grebe" (Plate CCCCIV - 404; part No. 81) Portfolio: The Birds of America, Havell Edition Year: 1838 Medium: Original Ha...
Category

1830s Victorian Animal Prints

Materials

Watercolor, Engraving, Aquatint, Intaglio

Set of Two Hand-Colored Ornithological Engravings by George Edwards /// Bird Art
By George Edwards
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: George Edwards (English, 1694-1773) Title: "Set of Two Hand-Colored Ornithological Engravings by George Edwards" Portfolio: A Natural History of Uncommon Birds, and of Some Other Rare and Undescribed Animals / Gleanings Of Natural History Year: 1743-1764 Medium: Set of Two Original Hand-Colored Engravings on watermarked laid and wove papers Limited edition: Unknown Printer: C. Rickaby, London, UK Publisher: William Gardiner and Messrs. Robinson, London, UK Reference: Mullens and Swann page 194-195; Anker No. 124-126; Fine Bird Books page 93; Lisney page 128-144; Nissen IVB No. 286-288; Zimmer page 192-198 Sheet size (each): approx. 11.25" x 9" Image size (each): approx. 8.63" x 7.38" Condition: "90" has faint offsetting to sheet. "308" has one foxmark center right. They are both otherwise in excellent condition with strong colors Notes: Comes from Edwards seven volume portfolio "A Natural History of Uncommon Birds, and of Some Other Rare and Undescribed Animals" / "Gleanings Of Natural History" (1743-1764), which consists of 362 hand-colored engravings. "90" is on laid paper with a "fleur-de-lis" watermark at center left edge. "308" is on wove paper with no watermark. The last image of the cover title sheets is for reference/provenance; it is not included. Biography: George Edwards FRS (3 April 1694 – 23 July 1773) was an English naturalist and ornithologist, known as the "father of British ornithology". Edwards was born at West Ham...
Category

1740s Old Masters Animal Prints

Materials

Watercolor, Laid Paper, Engraving, Intaglio

Ardea, Stellaris (Eurasian Bittern) /// Dutch Ornithology Bird Animal Engraving
By Cornelius Nozeman
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: Cornelius Nozeman (Dutch, 1720-1786) Title: "Ardea, Stellaris (Eurasian Bittern)" (Plate 41) Portfolio: Nederlandsche Vogelen (Dutch Birds) Year: 1770-1829 Medium: Original H...
Category

1770s Old Masters Animal Prints

Materials

Watercolor, Laid Paper, Engraving, Intaglio

Townsend s Cormorant /// John James Audubon Ornithology Bird Art Natural History
By John James Audubon
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: John James Audubon (American, 1785-1851) Title: "Townsend's Cormorant" (Plate 418, 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: 10.13" x 6.5" Image size: 4.38" x 5" Condition: Light toning to sheet. Some light foxing and small areas of discoloration. Remnants of mounting tape from previous framing on verso. The white background was recently also hand-colored. In otherwise good condition with strong colors Notes: Provenance: private collection - Nashville, TN; acquired from a gallery in Nashville, TN. 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 in London in 1838, from a specimen obtained near the mouth of the Columbia River. Brandt's cormorant is a strictly marine bird of the cormorant family of seabirds that inhabits the Pacific coast of North America. It ranges, in the summer, from Alaska to the Gulf of California, but the population north of Vancouver Island migrates south during the winter. 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...
Category

1840s Victorian Animal Prints

Materials

Watercolor, Lithograph

Le Millouinan /// Ornithology Martinet Bird Animal Art Duck Natural History
By François Nicolas Martinet
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: François-Nicolas Martinet (French, 1731-1800) Title: "Le Millouinan" (Plate 1002) Portfolio: Histoire Naturelle Des Oiseaux *Signed by Martinet in the plate (printed signatur...
Category

1770s Old Masters Animal Prints

Materials

Watercolor, Laid Paper, Engraving, Intaglio

Key-West Dove /// Ornithology Bird John James Audubon Shorebird Flowers Plant
By John James Audubon
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
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...
Category

1840s Victorian Animal Prints

Materials

Watercolor, Lithograph

You May Also Like

Large Classical Bird Color Print after John James Audubon - Mallard Duck
By After John James Audubon
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Classical Bird print, after John James Audubon, printed by Harry N. Abrams, Publishers, New York unframed, 17 x 14 inches color print on paper condition: very good provenance: from...
Category

20th Century Victorian Animal Prints

Materials

Color

Large Classical Bird Color Print After John James Audubon, Mallard Duck
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Classical Bird print, after John James Audubon, printed by Harry N. Abrams, Publishers, New York unframed, 17 x 14 inches color print on paper Condition: very good Provenance: from...
Category

20th Century Victorian Animal Prints

Materials

Acrylic

"King Duck": An Original First Octavo Edition Audubon Hand-colored Lithograph
By John James Audubon
Located in Alamo, CA
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...
Category

Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Large Classical Bird Color Print After John James Audubon, Blue Winged Teal
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Classical Bird print, after John James Audubon, printed by Harry N. Abrams, Publishers, New York unframed, 17 x 14 inches color print on paper condition: very good Provenance: from...
Category

20th Century Victorian Animal Prints

Materials

Acrylic

Canvass Back Duck: An Original 19th C. Audubon Hand-colored Bird Lithograph
By John James Audubon
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an original John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "Canvass Back Duck, 1. Male 2. Female, View of Baltimore, Maryland", No. 79, Plate 395 from Audubon's "Birds o...
Category

Late 19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

John James Audubon King Duck – Plate CCLXXVI – Second Edition Lithograph
Located in Winnetka, IL
A finely detailed print of King Duck by John James Audubon, Plate CCLXXVI. This example is from the second edition of The Birds of America and features two King Ducks positioned in a...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century American Prints

Materials

Paper