audubon

John James Audubon (1785-1851) was a very famous French/American artist during his time. He was a great lover of the natural environment and painted 435 paintings of the birds of America which are depicted in the Birds of America series which he published himself after securing down payments from his subscribers mainly in Britain and Europe and a little later some from America including noble and titled people such as the King of England at the time; King George IV, the Scottish writer Sir Walter Scott, King Charles X of France. Many other English and European notability including Lords and Peers of England. He was introduced to many English peers when the highly influential and very wealthy merchant of the Rathbone family of Liverpool took Audubon into his home. He could not find enough backers in America and England had the skilled artisans and the special technical printing processes that Audubon needed for his double elephant folios.

Prices have rocketed over the past decades and are highly sought after fetching staggering prices at auction. But what makes his books so expensive? Let’s take a look.