The Birds Of America

by Audubon, John James

Written by naturalist John James Audubon, the Birds of America is one of the most prized and collected books of all time. In addition to the stunning colors and detail in Audubon's work, it is noteworthy also because of its ambitious scope: to paint every bird in North America. Six of the birds painted have become extinct since its publication.

First Edition Identification

Originally published as a series of 425 loose hand-colored watercolor prints roughly 26 by 39 inches between 1827 and 1838, the Birds of America was collected in a five volume folio edition in 1838 (called the Harvell Edition). Subsequent editions were issued at a more affordable price in multi-volume octavo editions. One hundred twenty copies of the first edition are known to have survived complete, most now residing in institutions and libraries. The most recently sold copy went to an anonymous American collector at auction for $7.9 million in 2012.

Other Collectible or Notable Editions

Owing to its scarcity and desirability, even the later printed first octavo editions (1840s) generally run from $50,000-$100,000 and individual plates from the first folio edition can easily cost $30,000. However, despite - and in part owing to - its immense popularity, collectibility and hefty price tag, more accessible, collectible editions of Audubon's opus are available. Later editions from the 1850s can often be had in nice condition for four figures and individual prints from the octavo editions can be found for a few thousand dollars. A morocco bound edition printed in 11 volumes by Volair Limited can present an attractive version of the complete work for under $1,000.

Reviews

Review this book!

On Sep 14, 2016, Anonymous said

It is a very good book to bird watching with. He truly has a great eye for detail in his paintings. He has inspired me to draw the animals that I come in contact with while walking in the forest, around the Blue Ridge Mountains, at the coast, or where I may go or be at!

Available Copies

The Birds of America
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The Birds of America

by John James Audubon

Condition
Used - Very Good+
Edition
1941
Published
1941
Binding
Board covered in brown buckram
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1
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Keswick, Virginia, USA
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Beautifully illustrated in full color folio size. This book is in excellent condition with some wear to points as is to be expected. Gilt stamped front cover. Insides of cover discolored due to age.
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BIRDS OF AMERICA [ Complete Set ]

BIRDS OF AMERICA [ Complete Set ]

by Audubon, John James

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Used
Edition
First Edition Thus; Collector's Edition
Binding
Hardcover
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CROTON-ON-HUDSON, New York, USA
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Norwalk: Easton Press. First Edition Thus; Collector's Edition. Hardcover. Book condition is Near Fine, bound in full, genuine leather with gilt accents, 22kt gold page edges and a hubbed spine. Smyth sewn, interior vaunts moire end papers, acid-neutral paper (won't yellow or become brittle over time) and silk ribbon page marker. Text is clean and unmarked, still in factory… Read more about this item
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The Birds of America

by Audubon, John James

Condition
Used - Fine with no dust jacket
Edition
First Edition
Published
1937
Binding
Hard Cover
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Lincoln City, Oregon, USA
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SGD 103.14

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New York: The Macmillan Co.. Fine with no dust jacket. 1937. First Edition. Hard Cover. Full sized dummy of the regular edition of the book. Accompanying is a letter from the manager of the trade department of MacMillan, to a bookshop in Dallas, Texas. The top of the letter, the fep, & the inside front… Read more about this item
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The Birds Of America

by Audubon , John James

Condition
Used - Very Good
Published
1946
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Hardcover
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Palestine, Texas, USA
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The Macmillan Company, 1946. Hardcover. Very Good. This is a spectacular volume of 435 color prints ( 12in by 8 in . The interior of the book is in excellent condition and the prints are near fine . The cloth on the boards and the exterior page edges show soil and stains . The… Read more about this item
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Birds of America
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Birds of America

by Audubon, John James

Condition
Used - Excellent
Jacket Condition
Very good slipcase
Edition
1st
Published
2011-01-01
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10
0565092731
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Sidmouth, Devon, GBR
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UK: The Natural History Museum, 2011-01-01. 1st. Hardcover. Excellent/Very good slipcase. 400 x 267 mm. Audubon, John James. NO. Birds of America is one of the best known natural history books ever produced and also one of the most valuable - a complete set sold at auction in December 2010 for £7.3 million, which is a world record.… Read more about this item
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Birds of America

Birds of America

by AUDUBON John James

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Used
Published
1856
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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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1856. AUDUBON, John James. The Birds of America from Drawings Made in the United States and Their Territories. New York: V. G. Audubon, 1856-57. Seven volumes. Royal octavo, publisher's full brown morocco, elaborately decorated in blind, raised bands, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. $58,500.Second octavo edition, the first edition with fully colored backgrounds, containing 500 superb hand-colored plates.One of… Read more about this item
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THE BIRDS OF AMERICA

THE BIRDS OF AMERICA

by John James Audubon

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Used
Edition
Tenth Printing
Published
1974
Binding
Hardcover
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CROTON-ON-HUDSON, New York, USA
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New York: MacMillan Company, 1974. Tenth Printing. Hardcover. Book condition is Very Good; with a Very Good- dust jacket. A few tears and creases to jacket edges. Text is unmarked, illustrated throughout. ; 4to 11" - 13" tall.
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Birds of America: The Complete Collection of 435 Illustrations from the Most Famous Bird Book in the World

by Audubon, John James

Condition
New
Published
1997-10-01
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10
1571456120
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San Diego, California, USA
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Laurel Glen, 1997-10-01. Hardcover. New. New. In shrink wrap. Looks like an interesting title!
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Birds of America

by Audubon, John James

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New
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Hardcover
ISBN 10
1566491959
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San Diego, California, USA
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SGD 426.03

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Welcome Rain Publishers. Hardcover. New. New. In shrink wrap. Looks like an interesting title!
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Birds of America

Birds of America

by John James Audubon

Condition
Used - Very Good
Jacket Condition
Very Good
Published
1985
Binding
ISBN 10
0025044508
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Newtown, New South Wales, AUS
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New York & London: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1985 The dust jacket has a minimal wear. 515 pages. Books listed here are not stored at the shop. Please contact us if you want to pick up a book from Newtown.. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good.
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Birds of America

Birds of America

by Audubon, John James

Condition
Used - Very Good+
Jacket Condition
Very Good Slipcase
Edition
First Edition
Published
2011-10-03
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10
1402789475
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Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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Sterling Publishing Company, 2011-10-03. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good+/Very Good Slipcase. 10x2x15. First thus. Sterling, 2011; First Printing with full number line; 448pp., profusely illustrated. Binding is tight, sturdy, and square; blind-stamped navy cloth boards in VG+ condition, corners sharp, stamped white titling on spine remains bold; illustrations and text very good throughout. Navy cloth slipcase in VG… Read more about this item
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The Birds of America.

by AUDUBON, John James.

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Used - Near Fine in Near Fine dust jacket
Published
1965
Binding
Hardcover
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Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
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NY:: Macmillan Company,. Near Fine in Near Fine dust jacket. 1965. Hardcover. 435 color plates. With a foreword and descriptive captions by William Vogt. Seventh printing thus. Lightly bumped corners, else near fine in a near fine dust jacket. An attractive, well preserved copy. .
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The Birds of America by John James Audubon

by John James Audubon

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South Lyon, Michigan, USA
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Macmillan. Very Good. New York, 1974; tenth printing; green cloth covered boards; mild edge and corner wear; illustrated jacket in Bro-Dart like cover with edge wear and flaps taped to paste-downs; 4to - over 9 3/4" to 12" tall; coffee colored stain at fore-edge of second front end paper through plate 148; interior clean and unmarked; not paginated;… Read more about this item
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The Birds of America

by John James Audubon

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Hardcover
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Yukon, Oklahoma, USA
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Hardcover. Good. 4th printing, 1967. Would be very good, but for two things, 1: it has small stain on long page edges and even smaller one on bottom page edges. Probably the size of two pinheads side by side for larger. 2: If you just open the book you don't really notice, but if you fan the pages… Read more about this item
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The Birds of America

by John James Audubon

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Used - Very Good
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Missing
Published
1977
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Hardcover
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Macmillan , 1977. Hardcover. Very Good/Missing. New York, 1977; smoky odor present; green cloth covered boards; mild edge and corner wear; front cover lightly scratched; dust jacket missing; Folio, 12 to 15 inches tall; interior clean and unmarked; 435 plates; Additional shipping charges may need to be requested due to size or weight of book.
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The Birds of America

by John James Audubon

Condition
Used - Near Fine
Jacket Condition
Near Fine
Published
1985
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10
0025044508
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Diamond Springs, California, USA
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MacMillan, 1985. NF/NF. Near fine hard cover in near fine dust jacket. A very clean, well cared for book. Full number line. Forward by Robert McCracken Peck. A very nice copy. Carefully wrapped and packaged in a padded box for safe shipping. WE ARE VERY SORRY, BUT DUE TO THE SIZE… Read more about this item
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The Birds of America

by John James Audubon

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Used - Good
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Fair
Published
January 2012
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10
1435142578
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Youngtown, Arizona, USA
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Sterling, January 2012. Hardcover. Used - Good/Fair. Mild shelf wear on edges of dust jacket. Sticker from previous retailer on cover of dust jacket.
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Birds of America

by John James Audubon:

Condition
Used - Near Fine
Jacket Condition
Very Good +
Published
1997
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10
1853264911
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Montreal, Quebec, CAN
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Ware: Wordsworth Editions, 1997., 1997. Hardcover. Near Fine/Very Good +. Hardcover book in near fine condition. Dust jacket very good+, in protective mylar. This book is oversized and may require additional shipping charges. Questions welcome. We ship internationally from the United States and Canada every week. If buying internationally, please be aware that additional charges may apply for… Read more about this item
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The Birds of America

by AUDUBON, John James

Condition
Used - Very Good
Jacket Condition
No Jacket
Edition
3rd Edition
Published
1961
Binding
Decorative Cloth
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Rowe, Massachusetts, USA
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New York: MacMillan, 1961. 3rd Edition . Decorative Cloth. Very Good/No Jacket. 9 1/4" X 12 1/4." Unpaginated.A beautiful coffee-table size book with green boards and a silver drawing of a turkey on the cover. All pages bright and clean. Spine ends bumped with lightly worn corners. Book is slightly canted.
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The Birds of America

by John James Audubon

Condition
Used - Good
Published
1947-12-01
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10
0025044400
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HOUSTON, Texas, USA
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MacMillan Publishing Company, 1947-12-01. Hardcover. Good.
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