John james audubon s birds of america is a portal into the natural world. Npr s brings you news about books and authors along with our picks for great reads. We all know the story of famed naturalist and painter john audubon who studied and documented birds. The national audubon society audubon is a nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to conservation. Official source for audubon books, calendars, and other products. It was first published as a series in sections between 1827 and 1838, in edinburgh and london. How birds design, engineer, and build by peter goodfellow. But the protagonist of this npr backseat book club book finds solace in an unlikely place the pages of audubon s birds of america.
In addition, we offer some prints by other early american bird artists such as mark catesby, alexander wilson, and john cassin. National audubon society field guide to north american. John james audubon s birds of america holds the record as the worlds most expensive book. Use our tags to filter books and find the perfect read for yourself or someone you love. Like many of his peers he was an avid collector and a passionate hunter. Audubon s birds of america coloring book by john james audubon and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. We have the power to convene diverse stakeholders to solve even the toughest problems. The birds of america by john james audubon alibris. Npr s book concierge is your guide to 2018s best reads. First edition of the birds of america by john james audubon, done by the philadelphia firm of j. John james audubon, an early american naturalist and painter, produced one of the greatest works of natural history and art of the nineteenth century, the birds of america.
Ellen silva designed by juan elosua, geoff hing, katie park and matthew zhang published dec. April 26, 1785 january 27, 1851 was an american ornithologist, naturalist, and painter. The quadrupeds of north america octavo editions 184971 there were four different original audubon octavo editions published between 18491871, each consisting of 155 different hand colored stone lithographs issued in three volumes. Mar, 2001 the book was published in several editions between 1997 and 2000. Kiser, author, americas other audubon lori triplett, singer richey piiparinen, editor, rust belt chic william scheele, owner, kokoon arts gallery. The sevenvolume birds of america includes images of six nowextinct birds. Worlds most expensive book, birds of america, set to fetch. Birds of america john james audubon bauman rare books. Feb 05, 20 as the publisher of americas other audubon notes, inspired by viewing audubons lithographs at the 1876 worlds fair in philadelphia, 29yearold amateur naturalist and artist genevieve jones began working on a companion volume to the birds of america, illustrating the nests and eggs that audubon omitted. For anyone interested in one of the more famous plates in the bien edition of john james audubon s, birds of north america, this may serve to whet his or her appetite. The birds of america was a monumental work by an artist and naturalist obsessed with his work. In contrast to other wildlife artists of his day, audubon painted animals as if caught in motionparticularly feeding, hunting or escaping predators. Audubon is a respected and influential voice on public policy issues, from town halls to the u. The birds of america by john james audubon, cyril walker, roger tory peterson institute, virginia marie peterson.
Bowen in 18401844 size is approximately 6 12 x 10 inches genuine audubon lithograph blue mountain warbler male pl. Collecting the birds of america by audubon, john james. Produced by nicole cohen, rose friedman, petra mayer and glen weldon executive producer. The birds of america from drawings made in the united states and their territories. The publishers of which i am aware include welcome rain, laurel glen, and wordsworth.
Americas other audubon text by rosecrans baldwin selections from the monumental but unknown illustrations of the nests and eggs of birds of ohio, an amateurs attempt to illustrate nests and eggs that were missing from john james audubon s birds of america. No other conservation organization matches the size, reach, scale, influence, diversity, and creative. Nearly everyone is familiar with john james audubon and his seminal colorplate book birds of america. Not all of the specimens illustrated in the work were collected by audubon himself, some were sent to him by john kirk townsend who had collected them. Chronicles the fascinating story of genevieve jones, her family, and the making of this extraordinary collection of beautiful art. America s other audubon chronicles the moving story of genevieve jones, her family, the making of this extraordinary nineteenthcentury book, and reproduces the original art work for the very first time. America s other audubon chronicles the story of genevieve jones, her family, and the making of an extraordinary nineteenthcentury book, illustrations of the nests and eggs of birds of ohio. The birds of america absorbed audubons attention for much of his life and its publication took nearly 12 years to complete. Other articles where the birds of america is discussed. Witherbys fivevolume handbook of british birds 193841 and roger tory petersons field guide to the birds 1947, which gives the field marks of all north american birds found east of. Plus, an attorney makes the case for his love of art and. America s other audubon includes a foreword by the curator of naturalhistory rare books at the smithsonian, leslie overstreet, a prologue and introduction by researcher and writer joy m. It is named in honor of john james audubon, a francoamerican ornithologist.
Jan 19, 2012 this first edition of birds of america by john james audubon, originally bought by the duke of portland some time after 1828, is expected to become the worlds most expensive book when it is. This plate has been carefully removed from the fine limited edition published by w. I checked out this book from my library, hoping it had the full collection of birds from audubon s birds of america, but alas the copy by library had only featured 30 color prints from the original book, with a catalog of the remaining 470 prints printed in blackandwhite thumbnails in the back of the book. Inspired by a display of audubon s illustrations at the 1876 worlds fair in philadelphia, twentynine year old. The reaction from one ohio native who saw an exhibition of his work in 1830 left her feeling like something was missing, which put genevieve jones on a quest to follow closely in his footsteps, earning her the nickname, america s other audobon. The book, published by the natural history museum in london, contains 435 large hand coloured prints of engravings by john james audubon. The audubon society baby elephant folio differs in a number of ways besides its dimensions from earlier editions of the birds of america and from john james audubon s original, massive doubleelephant folio, the heaviest volume of which weighs 56 pounds. The birds of america by john james audubon, macmillan, 1942. The white paper is somewhat stiff, like a card stock. Richard lee rhodes born july 4, 1937 is an american historian, journalist, and author of both fiction and nonfiction, including the pulitzer prizewinning the making of the.
Birds of america by audubon abebooks shop for books. What npr s backseat book club has read so far looking for a great read for a kid age 914. To create this hardback edition, the natural history museums own original double elephant size folio was disbound and each of the 435 beautiful handcoloured prints was specially photographed. The guide has been completely revised to make identification in the field easier than ever. It is a tribute to a young woman, gennie jones, who was inspired by john james audubon, to supplement the areas of avian life nests and eggs omitted in his work. If audubonwho had plenty of help but who lives in the mind as a solitary inventoris the robinson crusoe of nature art, then the joneses are the swiss family robinson. Nor does the title reflect the jones familys wholehearted odyssey to produce something truly remarkable. Americas other audubon does not indicate that an unparalleled nest reference lies within, or that this exceptional work resulted from at least eight peoples efforts. Text by howard jones, america s other audubon by joy m. Melissa block talks with joy kiser, who has once again published the illustrations and wrote the story behind their creation in her book, americas other audubon.
John james audubons birds of america is a portal into the natural world. We also reveal why an artists response to what she saw missing in the paintings of famed naturalist john audubon earned her the name the other audubon. One particular bird in the audubon book, an arctic tern, makes a profound impression on doug. The sale affirmed audubons stature as the worlds most celebrated bird artist, but by at least one standard, the original. Genevieve jones examines the life and work of naturalist and artist genevieve jones, discussing the influence of john james audubon s paintings on her work, and including examples of her drawings. Americas other audubon by joy kiser is a book that will be a treasure for generations to come, reminding us of a remarkable young woman and her story, the beauty of nature, and the natural wonder that is america.
Rare copy of audubons birds of america for sale science. To learn more about this book and the story behind it, listen to an interview with joy kiser at npr. John james audubon 1785 1851 was an ornithologist of the early 19thcentury responsible for creating the largest and most beautiful illustrated bird book ever. He was notable for his extensive studies documenting all types of american birds and for his detailed illustrations that depicted the birds in their natural habitats. The birds of america is a book by naturalist and painter john james audubon, containing illustrations of a wide variety of birds of the united states. This large hardbound book is filled with beautiful color reproductions of audubons bird paintings.
At the age of twentynine, genevieve jones, an amateur naturalistartist and daughter of a country doctor, visited the 1876 centennial worlds fair in philadelphia, where she saw audubon s paintings in. Buy national audubon society field guide to north american wildflowerse. Audubon s warbler, hermit warbler, blackthroated gray warbler. But few people are aware of another monumental volume of stunning artwork, illustrations of the nests and eggs of birds of ohio, created by a remarkable american family. One of the finest ornithological works ever printed audubon, john james. Kiser published in 2012 and available through princeton architectural press for bird lovers, the exquisite paintings of john james audubon s birds of america stand not only as beautiful art, but as valuable references of ornithology from early america. The birds of america is one of the best known natural history books ever produced and also the most valuable a complete set sold at auction in december 2010 for gbp7. Backseat book club youthful reads for junior brainiacs. Undoubtedly, audubon s work has influenced countless artists and naturalists alike to produce their.
Npr s book concierge our guide to 2017s great reads. American watercolor painting, birds in art, classification, miniature books, ornithologists, specimens, artists, ornithological illustration, geographical distribution, juvenile literature, birds, biography, pictorial works, sale. Hosting the films world premiere at the 2015 environmental film festival in the nations capital allowed us to honor audubon and his significance as an artist and conservationist. As part of my research for the lost bird project, i was graciously given access to the audubon double folio housed in the rare books library at cornell university. Birds of america by john james audubon 1946 hb the birds of america is an intriging book by author, john james audubon. John james audubgon was born april 26, 1785 at aux cayes, the son of a french naval officer. In the 19th century it was the usual practice for bird illustrators to work exclusively from preserved specimens, but audubon found this less than ideal. As with the other books in this series it is richly. He travelled widely in search of specimens and, later, in. The birds of america hardcover january 1, 1942 by john james audubon author.
Audubon the writer national endowment for the humanities neh. The lifes work of both a lover and observer of birds and nature. Kiser with archival photographs of the family and original advertisements and ephemera from the publication and sale of the book, the 68 original color. Jan 09, 2012 as part of my research for the lost bird project, i was graciously given access to the audubon double folio housed in the rare books library at cornell university. Audubon scientists took advantage of 140 million observations, recorded by birders and scientists, to describe where 604 north american bird species live todayan area known as their range.
Do not confuse this book with other books reproducing audubon s birds of america with the same or similar title. First published in double elephant size approximately a metre tall in the first half of the nineteenth century, it is famous for. Singer lori tripletts story of why cleveland turned out to be a safe place to land after a rocky start in the record business. Our selection of books on request by or about audubon is the most complete available.
Here are all the titles our kids book club has read since we launched in 2011. John james audubon is best known for the birds of america, a book of 435 images, portraits of every bird then known in the united states painted and reproduced in the size of life. They then used the latest climate models to project how each speciess range will shift as climate change and other human impacts advance across. This is a complete edition of john james audubon s nineteenth century masterpiece, the birds of america. Norton in italy under the auspices of joel oppenheimer, a distinguished dealer of bird prints. Visit audubon marketplace bees the buzz about native bees books. As the record of the interior story of the making of this monumental work, his journal of 1826 is one of the richest documents in the history of american culture. And audubons second book, ornithological biography, which was intended to be a companion to the birds of america, would inspire the founding of the national audubon society.
The book was published in several editions between 1997 and 2000. Audubon vividly captures the remarkable life of john james audubon. Jan 20, 2012 audubon s bird book wont sell for chicken feed john james audubon s great work, the birds of america, goes on sale friday at christies auction house. Audubon s bird book wont sell for chicken feed john james audubon s great work, the birds of america, goes on sale friday at christies auction house. If you are into well made books, this one is for you. Located in the united states and incorporated in 1905, audubon is one of the oldest of such organizations in the world and uses science, education and grassroots advocacy to advance its conservation mission. Printed between 1827 and 1838, it contains 435 lifesize watercolors of north american birds havell edition, all reproduced from handengraved plates, and is considered to be the archetype of wildlife illustration. The birds of america by john james audubon in pictures. It was printed by macmillan company in 1946 and it is a fifth edition. Sep 10, 2010 john james audubon s birds of america holds the record as the worlds most expensive book. With audubon s help, beatup kid is okay for now listen.
378 319 1189 680 405 374 702 888 1544 812 161 1081 1136 690 37 1403 591 1506 1535 615 1047 1392 133 281 193 363 533 218 272 439 223 1423 389 883 1091 1101 1321