John James Audubon begins publishing The Birds of America (1826–1827)

John James Audubon began publishing The Birds of America in 1827 as a series of double-elephant folio plates in the United Kingdom. He sought financial support from subscribers and engaged London engravers to produce the prints. The project involved traveling to secure patrons and establishing a subscription model that cost subscribers approximately $1,000 per set.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. Audubon arrived in the United Kingdom in 1826 with his portfolio of illustrations, seeking financial support from subscribers and the technical abilities of engravers. He traveled around the UK and to Paris, lecturing on ornithology to entice wealthy patrons. His goal was to create a complete pictorial record of North American bird species through a large-format color-plate book.

Publication Process. The book was first published as a series in sections between 1827 and 1838 in Edinburgh and London. Audubon engaged the noted London animal engraver Robert Havell Jr. and his father. The original edition, known as the Double Elephant Folio, was printed on handmade paper measuring 39.5 inches tall by 28.5 inches wide.

Subscription Model. Audubon sold the copper engraving plates through a subscription basis in North America and Europe. The prints produced from 1827 to 1838 cost each subscriber around $1,000. Subscribers included King Charles X of France, Queen Adelaide of the United Kingdom, and the 2nd Earl Spencer.

People involved

Sources

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