James Audubon and his book Birds of America are highly popular around the world. The artistic beauty of the book has captured the imagination of those besides ornithologists. The book is from the 19th century and in this, James Audubon illustrates the native birds of Northern America. 

Furthermore, it offers a beautiful view of the birds in their natural habitat while also being scientifically accurate. Today, the book is found in museums and sold at exorbitant prices. All of which make it distinct today. 

However, The Birds Of America Book also gained quite the popularity during its time. You might be wondering what makes it special compared to other books of the era. And, that’s exactly what we’re here to find out today. 

So without further ado, let’s go explore the features that make this book special, then and now. 

1- The Sheer Number of Birds

In four volumes, the book contains a total of 435 plates. In these, you will find a whopping 1,065 life-sized illustrations of the native birds of the Northern American region. That’s a total of 489 bird species of the time. 

As you can imagine, this is no simple feat, and took him over a decade to fully complete the work. However, he sold the plates in a subscription fashion throughout the time, affording him income. 

2- Lives Long Gone

We learn about plenty of lost species through fossils and archaeological research. However, we can only imagine what they look like and that is, undoubtedly, limited. However, The Birds Of America Book has captured some birds that have become extinct since the late 1800s. 

We know of at least five to eight birds from the book that are now extinct. Given his amazing portrayal of the bird, we can still see them speculate their natural behaviors. This makes this book unique without a doubt.

3- Ornithological Accuracy

John James Audubon sued taxidermy to pose the birds for him to paint. He took it a step further and used strings to pose them more naturally than is possible with just taxidermy. He uses a system of wires and strings, placed strategically, to position them.

This allowed him to showcase how he viewed them in the field and their natural movements. Such accuracy in similar books of the time is quite rare. Moreover, ornithologists and bird enthusiasts can learn about the birds by going through the images. 

They focus on the fine and identifiable details of their features. Thus proving far more useful than written descriptions. 

His visual representation of the birds was undoubtedly groundbreaking for the time. It showcases his efforts and hard work in capturing the birds as naturally as possible. 

4- Capturing Audiences

Like most books of its type, it is sure to attract bird enthusiasts and ornithologists. However, the amazing visuals captured audiences beyond the niche. Rather than being bored by descriptions, the book is utterly captivating. 

He also ensured to follow the highest standards in its printing to capture the colors of the birds as accurately as possible. Moreover, he positioned the birds in various ways as he observed them in nature. This clues us in on how these birds act in their habitat. Thus his book had a wider audience than one could imagine for a book of this type. 

5- The Size of the Book

Another feature of The Birds Of America Book is the size of the book and each leaf. For this book, Audubon aimed to depict the birds in their real size. Of course, the book had to be large then. 

Audubon made use of double elephant folio-size paper throughout the book. They are enormous and can measure up to 3 feet tall. To be specific, the prints measured 99 by 66 centimeters. 

The size, in addition to the coloring, adds to the oneness of the book. 

In the Modern Day

Besides the era of its publication, the book is considered unique and special even today. Those who record history are indeed special people. While it may not have seemed special at the time, it allows future generations to learn about the past. 

As such, this is one of those books that record history. Leafing through his book, we can look at the Carolina parakeet, Labrador duck, Pinnated grouse, passenger penguin, great auk, and even the Eskimo curlew, Ivory-billed woodpecker, and Bachman’s warbler. All of these animals have become extinct since. 

Fortunately, John James Audubon has captured the images of these birds as they faded out of existence. Additionally, the work manifests Audubon's hard work and efforts of a decade and then some. Lastly, it lets us understand what we can accomplish when we concentrate our efforts on the things we’re passionate about. 

Conclusion

Audubon’s The Birds Of America Book remains a landmark achievement in the field of ornithology and art. It perfectly blends art and science and shows how mixing the two reaches far and wide among people than when presented separately. Audubon's meticulous illustrations, staunch adherence to accuracy, and use of colors have contributed greatly to ornithological studies. 

Explore Birds of America from Arader Books today to learn more. Enjoy the experience of owning rare books and preserving those that are mostly forgotten today. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How was Audubon’s The Birds Of America Book originally published?

Originally, the books were published on a subscription basis. Audubon first sold copper engraving plates in North America and Europe, each subscriber received five plates. Later, he compiled the work into a single book. 

Is The Birds Of America Book very expensive?

The complete set of The Birds Of America Book is quite rare and only 120 or so remains today. As such, it is highly sought after and costs millions of dollars depending on the condition, provenance, and completeness of the copy. 

How many sets of The Birds Of America Book exist today?

Only about 120 complete sets exist today. Many of them belong to prestigious institutions as well as among private collectors.

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