Birds of America Double-elephant folio Editions
Viviparous Quadruped Imperial Folio Editions
The Audubon Bien Ed. Pl. 257 Pileated Woodpecker is an enchanting example of Audubon’s artistic legacy and technical innovation.
Produced by Audubon’s sons and printed through the innovative technique of chromolithography, this print marks a historic transition in color printing technology. The soft, atmospheric background, vivid colors, and granulated linework breathe the fresh perspective of a new generation into Audubon’s canonical images. Whether your interest lies in art, nature, or history, this chromolithograph is a splendid and multilayered addition to your collection.
About Audubon’s Bien edition of The Birds of America
Produced between 1858 and 1860, the Bien edition of John James Audubon’s The Birds of America is the largest and most valuable color plate book ever published in America and the rarest of all John James Audubon folios. Printed by Julius Bien on double-elephant folio sheets measuring 26 1/2″ x 39″, this edition represents one of the finest examples of early large-scale color printing.
The Bien edition of The Birds of America was initiated by Audubon’s two sons, John Woodhouse and Victor Gifford, several years after his death. Collaborating with New York-based lithographer Julius Bien, they carried on Audubon’s legacy by producing his historic folio through the pioneering medium of chromolithography. In a similar manner to its Havell edition predecessor, the Bien edition was sold by subscription, beginning in 1858. However, production was brought to a halt by the advent of the Civil War and only 150 plates on 105 sheets were completed. The consensus is that fewer than seventy folios were ever completed, making the Bien edition the rarest of Audubon’s folios.
About John James Audubon
America’s most revered artist-naturalist, John James Audubon (1785—1851), is renowned for his extraordinary undertaking to visually record the birds and mammals of North America. His publications The Birds of America & The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America are icons of 19th-century art and capture the nascent stages of American natural history.
Born in 1785 in Les Cayes, Santo Domingo (Haiti) to a Creole mother and French father, Audubon spent the early years of his life in France but moved to America at age 18. It was during this time that his appreciation for birds flourished and he developed a keen artistic acumen for rendering wildlife. It was not until 1819 when Audubon was married and the father of two sons, that he embraced the life of artist-naturalist and embarked on his venture through the backwoods of America with the intent of illustrating the avian life he encountered there.
Audubon’s muti-decade venture resulted in the publication of his monumental folio The Birds of America which documented over 700 bird species on 435 plates. In a similar manner and with the help of his two sons and his friend Reverend John Bachman, Audubon later produced The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America, which contained 150 plates depicting the mammals of North America. Audubon’s folios were seismic in the fields of ornithology and mammalogy and set a new precedent for natural history illustration.
For more information about the Audubon Bien Ed. Pl. 257 Pileated Woodpecker, email us at [email protected] or check out our articles Audubon Print Collecting Guide, What are the differences between an Audubon Havell engraving and Bien Lithograph, What is a Lithograph? A Practical Guide to Understanding and Identifying Lithographic Prints, and A Modernist Approach to Understanding a Selection of Prints from Audubon’s Birds of America?
More Information About Audubon PrintsView All Articles
Natural History Art Treasures under $10,000
Collecting original art doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, there are a surprising number of original paintings and antique prints that can be acquired [...]
Read More
Collecting Guide: Oppenheimer Editions Audubon Prints
Since its inception in 1996, our publishing company Oppenheimer Editions has partnered with major institutions to make their holdings available as modern facsimile prints. Several [...]
Read More
Exploring Early Methods of Specimen Collection in Natural History Art
Have you ever wondered where the reference material for antique wildlife prints and paintings came from? In an era before photography, how did the artist [...]
Read More
Casualties of Fashion: The Contentious History of Plume Plundering
Though the idea of ornamenting oneself with a bird carcass may be a bit deterring today, historically, birds and their feathers have played a major [...]
Read More
What is an Engraving? A Guide to Intaglio Printmaking Techniques
This article will examine the intaglio printmaking processes of engraving, etching, and their subsidiaries in relation to image production.
Read More
Investigating Audubon’s 50 Best Watercolors
The Oppenheimer Editions Fine Art Prints of Audubon's Watercolors for The Birds of America
Read More
Interspecific Encounters in Audubon’s Birds of America
Picturing Combat between Different Species in Audubon's Prints
Read More
Audubon’s Miniature Folio – The Octavo Edition of Birds of America
A survey of the technical translation of Audubon’s work from the monumental to the miniature.
Read More
| Weight | 5 lbs |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 39 × 26 × 0.125 in |
| Artist | |
| Publication Title | |
| Type of Artwork | Antique Original |
| Medium | |
| Creation Date | 1860 |
| Subject |
Joel Oppenheimer, Inc. is committed to providing our customers with original, antique natural history art of the finest quality. Below you will find the terms and conditions of doing business with us and what to expect when you purchase artwork from our company.
Authenticity of Artwork
Joel Oppenheimer Gallery guarantees the authenticity of every piece of artwork as described. If you have any questions about the authenticity or condition of a piece, please call us at 312-642-5300 or email us at [email protected].
Return Policy
We accept returns of artwork purchased on our website within 30 days of the purchase date. Artwork returned in the same condition it was sent in is eligible for a complete refund. If it has been longer than 30 days and you wish to make an exchange, please contact a sales representative at [email protected] to make arrangements.
Payment
When purchasing art on our website, payment will be due in full when processing the order through the online shopping cart. If you would like to discuss alternate payment options, please contact the gallery at 312-642-5300 or [email protected]
Condition
Every piece of artwork shipped from Joel Oppenheimer Gallery will be sent in good to excellent condition unless otherwise stated. Due to the depth of our inventory, some artwork may need to be conserved before it is shipped to you. This service is included with the purchase of every piece of antique artwork at Joel Oppenheimer, Inc. Original Audubon Octavos 1st Edition will be shipped in an archival rag board mat. Audubon 2nd edition Octavos are shipped as is.
Delivery
Unframed artwork is typically shipped within 2 - 10 business days of purchase. If an antique piece requires conservation before it is shipped, this typically adds 5 - 10 business days to the delivery time. Framed artwork purchased online typically ship within 10 - 15 business days of the purchase date. You will be contacted in 2 - 3 business days with an estimated ship date. If you require expedited processing of your order, please contact us at 312-642-5300 or [email protected] and we will do what we can to accommodate your time frame.
Related products
Sale!
Bien Edition - Antique Originals
Audubon Bien Ed. Pl. 251, Mango Hummingbird, Pl. 252, Columbian Hummingbird
Original price was: $7,500.00.$2,250.00Current price is: $2,250.00.
Original Chromolithograph | circa 1858-1860 | 39 x 26 inches
Sale!
Bien Edition - Antique Originals
Original price was: $7,600.00.$3,040.00Current price is: $3,040.00.
Original Chromolithograph | circa 1858-1860 | 39 x 26 inches
Sale!
Bien Edition - Antique Originals
Audubon Bien Ed. Pl. 196 Crested Purple Finch & Pl. 199 Pine Grosbeak
Original price was: $3,800.00.$950.00Current price is: $950.00.
Original Chromolithograph | circa 1858-1860 | 39 x 26 inches
Sale!
Bien Edition - Antique Originals
Audubon Bien Ed. Pl. 159 Seaside Finch & Pl. 172 Bay-winged Bunting
Original price was: $4,500.00.$1,125.00Current price is: $1,125.00.
Original Chromolithograph | circa 1858-1860 | 39 x 26 inches
Sale!
Bien Edition - Antique Originals
Original price was: $8,500.00.$3,825.00Current price is: $3,825.00.
Original Chromolithograph | circa 1858-1860 | 39 x 26 inches
Sale!
Bien Edition - Antique Originals
Original price was: $12,000.00.$10,800.00Current price is: $10,800.00.
Original Chromolithograph | circa 1858-1860 | 39 x 26 inches
Sale!
Bien Edition - Antique Originals
Audubon Bien Ed. Pl. 132 AmericanGolden Crested Wren & Pl. 133 Ruby crowned Wren
Original price was: $3,500.00.$875.00Current price is: $875.00.
Original Chromolithograph | circa 1858-1860 | 39 x 26 inches
Sale!
Bien Edition - Antique Originals
Audubon Bien Ed. Pl. 71 Hooded Warbler & PL. 79 Green-back Capt. Flycatcher
Original price was: $3,100.00.$775.00Current price is: $775.00.
Original Chromolithograph | circa 1858-1860 | 39 x 26 inches
