395 - Canvass Back Duck
Hand-colored stone lithograph from
the Octavo later edition, Birds of America.
When the monumental masterpiece, the double elephant folio (~ 39" x 26" in size) Havell edition of The Birds of America (BOA) was published by John James Audubon, because of its prohibitive expense, its sales were pretty much limited to the very wealthy in the Society such the Lords, Dukes, Queen Adelaide, etc., and major Art Museums and Universities etc. It was beyond the reach of the common man. Thus, soon after, Audubon decided to produce a much more affordable edition of his Birds of America that can be enjoyed by a wider segment of the society, while also generating enough income to support his family. The result was "The Royal Octavo Edition of The Birds of America". These are hand-colored stone lithographs, about 10" x 6.5" in size, produced from the larger Havell images using the Camera Lucida. For the intriguing story behind this edition, the reader is referred to the excellent book, "Audubon's Great National Work, The Royal Octavo Edition of The Birds Of America", by Ron Tyler.
the Octavo later edition, Birds of America.
When the monumental masterpiece, the double elephant folio (~ 39" x 26" in size) Havell edition of The Birds of America (BOA) was published by John James Audubon, because of its prohibitive expense, its sales were pretty much limited to the very wealthy in the Society such the Lords, Dukes, Queen Adelaide, etc., and major Art Museums and Universities etc. It was beyond the reach of the common man. Thus, soon after, Audubon decided to produce a much more affordable edition of his Birds of America that can be enjoyed by a wider segment of the society, while also generating enough income to support his family. The result was "The Royal Octavo Edition of The Birds of America". These are hand-colored stone lithographs, about 10" x 6.5" in size, produced from the larger Havell images using the Camera Lucida. For the intriguing story behind this edition, the reader is referred to the excellent book, "Audubon's Great National Work, The Royal Octavo Edition of The Birds Of America", by Ron Tyler.
