AUDUBON, John James and John BACHMAN. Prospectus for: The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America . New York, 1842.
AUDUBON, John James and John BACHMAN. Prospectus for: The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America . New York, 1842. Broadside (250 x197 mm). Printed on recto only. (Faint fold lines.) Quarter morocco folding case. Provenance : from the Audubon family collection, possibly Audubon's own copy (docketed on verso “Original Prospectus for the Quads of A”). VERY RARE PROSPECTUS FOR AUDUCON’S ELEPHANT-FOLIO EDITION OF THE ‘QUADRUPEDS.’ In it, Audubon asks potential subscribers to contact him. At the age of 54 in 1839, Audubon was preparing the octavo edition of the Birds , and conceived the great folio edition of his quadrupeds. When his loyal friend John Bachman heard of the endeavor, he wrote “The animals have never been carefully described, and you will find difficulties at every step. Books cannot aid you much. Long journeys will have to be undertaken. Several species remain to be added and their habits ascertained… Don’t flatter yourself that this book is child’s play – the birds are a mere trifle compared with this” (Clark, p.64). The success of the octavo Birds allowed Audubon the funds to underwrite the folio Quadrupeds , issued in thirty numbers each containing five plates and priced at ten dollars per number, as explained in the prospectus. The prospectus anticipates publication beginning in December 1843, but it actually ran from 1845 to 1854. Audubon did not live to see completion of the project. The prospectus is rare, with none appearing at auction in at least 40 years according to online databases. This copy was acquired by the present owner through the Audubon family, and may be Audubon’s own given the docketing on the verso.
AUDUBON, John James and John BACHMAN. Prospectus for: The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America . New York, 1842.
AUDUBON, John James and John BACHMAN. Prospectus for: The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America . New York, 1842. Broadside (250 x197 mm). Printed on recto only. (Faint fold lines.) Quarter morocco folding case. Provenance : from the Audubon family collection, possibly Audubon's own copy (docketed on verso “Original Prospectus for the Quads of A”). VERY RARE PROSPECTUS FOR AUDUCON’S ELEPHANT-FOLIO EDITION OF THE ‘QUADRUPEDS.’ In it, Audubon asks potential subscribers to contact him. At the age of 54 in 1839, Audubon was preparing the octavo edition of the Birds , and conceived the great folio edition of his quadrupeds. When his loyal friend John Bachman heard of the endeavor, he wrote “The animals have never been carefully described, and you will find difficulties at every step. Books cannot aid you much. Long journeys will have to be undertaken. Several species remain to be added and their habits ascertained… Don’t flatter yourself that this book is child’s play – the birds are a mere trifle compared with this” (Clark, p.64). The success of the octavo Birds allowed Audubon the funds to underwrite the folio Quadrupeds , issued in thirty numbers each containing five plates and priced at ten dollars per number, as explained in the prospectus. The prospectus anticipates publication beginning in December 1843, but it actually ran from 1845 to 1854. Audubon did not live to see completion of the project. The prospectus is rare, with none appearing at auction in at least 40 years according to online databases. This copy was acquired by the present owner through the Audubon family, and may be Audubon’s own given the docketing on the verso.
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