Audubon 1st Ed. Octavo Prothonotary Warbler Plate 106
Item History & Price
Golden Eagle Gallery is pleased to offer Audubon's magnificent portrait of the
Prothonotary* Warbler
{ *prōdəˈnōdərē / prō-tə-ˈnō-tə-rē }
A rare original John James Audubon lithograph, this portrait of a pair of Prothonotary Warblers is from Volume II of the original Royal Octavo Edition of "The Birds of America".
This lithograph was drawn on stone by Rob...ert Trembly (whose initials "R.T." appear beneath the center of the image), printed and hand-colored by America's finest 19th century fine art print maker, J.T. Bowen's "Lithographic Establishment" in Philadelphia, between 11/28/1840 and 4/24/1841 in a limited edition of 1, 250 copies and published by J.B. Chevalier, also of Philadelphia.
This piece of early 19th century fine art is 178 years old and is Plate 106 from the 1st Royal Octavo Edition of The Birds of America. It was part of the original subscription edition.
This antique stone lithograph with original hand coloring is a fine composition from Audubon's "Birds of America", and is highly sought after by serious collectors of natural history art. This portrait is based on the priceless original painting by Audubon now in the collection of the New York Historical Society in New York City at the corner of 77th Street and Central Park West on the Upper West Side of Manhattan; that painting was also used as the basis for Plate 3 of the Lizar & Havell Editions of the Double Elephant Folio The Birds of America published in Edinburgh, Scotland & London, England 1826- 1827. The fact that Audubon choose to honor the Prothonotary Warbler as the third plate of the first five portraits included in the very first fascicle of his magnum opus (the Lizar & Havell Editions of The Birds of America) speaks to the high regard in which Audubon held this warbler.
This exquisite work displays a pair of Prothonotary Warblers perched on a cane vine. This species, while very good looking is also very hard to see in nature. It is declining in numbers due to loss of habitat and listed as an endangered species in Canada. It thrives in protectedconservancy areas, preferring densely wooded lands with streams where it canforage for insects, snails and the like in low foliage. In "A Sand County Almanac" Aldo Leopold described it as the |"J]ewel of my disease-ridden woodlot, as proof that dead trees transform into living animals, and vice versa. When you doubt the wisdom of this arrangement, take a look at the prothonotary."
This rare antique lithograph approaching two centuries in age is in very good condition with rich original hand-coloring, some age toning, vertical crease in left margin. Original binding edge present along right side of the sheet. Sheet measures 10 3/8 in. x 6 1/2 in., with ample margins.
This piece of early 19th century fine art would be an ideal graduation gift.
Audubon was influenced by, and yet transformed the tradition of natural history art illustration, by placing his subjects in their natural setting and in extraordinarily life-like positions.
His predecessors and successors notably include Mark Catesby, George Edwards, Cornelius Nozeman, Eleazar Albin, Xaverio Manetti, Alexander Wilson, John & Elizabeth Gould, Prideaux John Selby, Edward Lear, Titian Ramsay Peale, Daniel Giraud Elliot, Walton Ford and others n
