Audubon Art Prints: A Collector's Guide to Every Edition

By far the most comprehensive guide available to the bird and quadruped prints of John James Audubon (1785-1851), Audubon Art Prints offers buyers, sellers, and collectors an easy-to-use, one-volume source of information for these widely sought-after prints. When Bill Steiner first became interested in acquiring original Audubon prints, he was surprised by the dearth of conveniently accessible, accurate information on the subject. In an effort to catalog all things Audubon, he unearthed obscure references, surveyed the contemporary marketplace, and consulted specialists from around the world. The results of his labors, gathered here in this lavishly illustrated volume, provide an invaluable and fascinating encyclopedic reference.

Addressing one of the more complex aspects of print collection, Steiner clarifies the task of distinguishing the octavo prints of the successive editions of Audubon's Birds of America (1840-1871) and Quadrupeds of North America (1849-1870). He describes the publication histories of each edition since the first; offers information about printers, engravers, and subscribers; and provides practical information on price histories, accessibility, and preservation. Steiner also explores the increasingly popular markets for subsidiary prints, posters, and Audubon ephemera.