Beschreibung:

Audubon, John JamesLetter signed ("John J. Audubon"), to Dr. Josiah Simpson, discussing the management a taxidermical preservation of animals, White Street, New York, circa 1844 3 pages (224 x 280 mm), on a bifolium, accomplished in a neat secretarial hand in black ink, "86 White Street, New York" at top of first page, and signed ("John J. Audubon") in sepia ink at foot; old folds, minor marginal browning, one or two instances of faint foxing. With original brown paper envelope tipped onto lower margin of letter. A remarkable letter in which America's greatest naturalist discusses specimen preservation. "Dear Sir, Being now actively engaged in preparing for publication, a work figuring and describing all the viviparous quadrupeds that have already been discovered, or may be procured within the limits of our extensive country..." By the mid-1840s, Audubon was the most famous naturalist painter in America. The Birds of America, his masterpiece, had been completed, earning him a tidy sum. With his fortune, Audubon built a house on the Hudson River, in what is now the Upper West Side of New York City. Even before completing The Birds of America, Audubon began to consider documenting mammals in the same fashion. His collaborator on The Viviparous Quadrupeds Of North America, was Rev. John Bachman, an amateur naturalist from Charleston, who provided text based on Audubon’s report from an expedition into the West. After mentioning his association with Bachman in the present letter, Audubon continues: "I take the liberty of addressing you [Dr. Josiah Simpson] the present, which will be forwarded by my friend Col. J.J. Abert of the Topographical Bureau, and solicit your aid in promoting the advancement of the branch of Natural Science by obtaining Specimens of such viviparous quadrupeds as may be found within the limits of your jurisdiction, or beyond that, if opportunity offers." The Topographical Bureau was created as a branch of the U.S. Army in 1813, and continued as an elite corps until John James Abert, a West Point graduate, became its head in 1829. The major mission of the Corps was to map out the West, which was at that time a still unexplored, undocumented region. Under Abert’s leadership, the Corps of Topographical Engineers recruited the best soldier-scientists, or “Topogs,” they could find, and carried out explorations that resulted in the comprehensive mapping of the American West. In this letter, Audubon goes on to give Simpson, who was posted at Fort Wayne, Arkansas, the following instructions: "When Specimens have been procured & prepared (as directed below) please send the, to the Topographical Bureau to the care of Col. J.J. Abert for me, or forward them to my address in this City ... . The mode of preparing the Skins so that they can be drawn by me correctly is as follows. Cut a longitudinal orifice in the abdomen from between the forelegs of the Animal to within a short distance of the anus, then turn the skin carefully off from the body and legs..." Audubon continues to outline his method with the greatest precision, explaining how pulverized arsenic must be used to preserve the skin, and how buffalo hair can be used to prevent a pelt from adhering to itself before it's fully dried. "I wish for Specimens of all kinds," Audubon continues, "of small as well as large Animals..." Indeed, Audubon's passion is unmistakable, as he notes his desire for examples for old and young specimens, male and female, and bats of every variety. Audubon's brought his gift for depicting bird plumage (down to its tiniest wisp) to mammals in his Quadrupeds, capturing the warmth and softness of fur and hair. The present piece of correspondence offers an incredible glimpse into his process as an artist and as a naturalist as it captures both his technical prowess and his enthusiasm. PROVENANCEDr. Charles Walter McCutchen