TOBACCO LABEL. "Belle of Virginia". Hoen. ca. 1880.
The Belle of Virginia. Manuf’d in the United States of America by David Dunlop, Petersburg VA. U.S.A. In margin: A. Hoen & Co Richmond, VA. 6 ¼” w x 13 ½”h. Colored lithograph. Image in very good condition. This label is probably a leftover copy printed during the 1880’s. Such labels were pasted on crates (also called caddies) or barrels of tobacco.

This is an image of young woman with a pearl necklace and a fan. Below her is a modified image of the Great Seal of Virginia.

David Dunlop was born in Scotland on September 8, 1804. He immigrated to the United States in the mid-1820's and joined his uncle's tobacco manufacturing firm, "Dunlop and Orgain" of Petersburg. After his uncle's death in 1827, Dunlop took over management of the company, which became one of the most successful businesses in antebellum Petersburg. By 1860 his factory employed some 300 persons, mostly slaves and free blacks.

A. Hoen & Co. originally a Baltimore, Maryland-based lithography firm, was founded by Edward Weber in the 1840s as E. Weber & Company. German immigrant August Hoen took it over with his brothers Henry and Ernest in the mid 1850s, upon Weber's death. A branch of A. Hoen opened in Richmond, Virginia in the late 1860s. Among Hoen's earliest Richmond jobs was the printing of Southern currency near the end of the Civil War. In the newer Richmond plant the quality of inks and paper stock, as well as the multi-layer lithography process itself saw great advances, to the point where most Hoen-produced covers and cigar boxes from the 1890s forward still retain their original hues after more than a century. Hoen used the five color multi-layer process for his printing.

TOBACCO LABEL. "Courage." Hoen. ca. 1900.
Courage. British-American Tobacco Co. Ltd. Successor to Wm. Cameron & Bro. Petersburg, VA. In bottom margin: "Dying to save the Queens Colours." An episode in the battle of Insandlwhana The death of Lieutenants Melville and Coghill, 24th Regiment. Lower right in image: Lith. by A. Hoen & Co. Richmond, VA. 10”w x 9 ¾”h. Colored lithograph. Image in very good condition. This label is probably a leftover copy printed during the early 1900s. Such labels were pasted on crates (also called caddies) or barrels of tobacco.

The “Battle of Isandlwana” on January 22, 1879 was the opening, major encounter in the war between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom. A 20,000 strong Zulu army equipped mainly with iron spears and cowhide shields defeated a mixed British and native force armed with the state of the art breech-loading rifles and artillery. Over 1,300 British and native troops were killed, while the Zulu warriors suffered approximately one thousand killed.

The British American Tobacco has been in business since 1902 as a joint venture between the UK’s Imperial Tobacco Company and the American Tobacco Company founded by James ‘Buck’ Duke. Despite its name, derived from the home bases of its two founding companies, British American Tobacco was established to trade outside both the UK and the USA and grew to cover Africa, Asia, Latin America and Continental Europe. A. Hoen & Co. originally a Baltimore, Maryland-based lithography firm, was founded by Edward Weber in the 1840s as E. Weber & Company. German immigrant August Hoen took it over with his brothers Henry and Ernest in the mid 1850s, upon Weber's death. A branch of A. Hoen opened in Richmond, Virginia in the late 1860s. Among Hoen's earliest Richmond jobs was the printing of Southern currency near the end of the Civil War. In the newer Richmond plant the quality of inks and paper stock, as well as the multi-layer lithography process itself saw great advances, to the point where most Hoen-produced covers and cigar boxes from the 1890s forward still retain their original hues after more than a century. Hoen used the five color multi-layer process for his printing.

TOBACCO LABEL. "Crusader". Calvert Lith. Co. Ca. 1900.
Crusader Tobacco Manufacture by Watson & McGill, Petersburg, VA. Lower left in image: The Calvert Lith. Co. Detroit, Mich. 9 ½”w x 9 ½”h. Colored lithograph. Short split in bottom margin. Paper slightly toned. Image in very good condition. This unused label is probably a leftover copy printed during the early 1900s. Such labels were pasted on crates (also called caddies) and barrels of tobacco.

This tobacco label depicts a medieval crusader in armor, brandishing a sword and waving a banner.

The tobacco firm “Watson & McGill” was in business in Petersburg from ca. 1830 to 1920.

Thomas Calvert immigrated from England in 1849 and the founded his first graphic arts firm in Philadelphia in 1852. He incorporated “The Calvert Lithographing, Engraving and Map Publishing Company” in 1867, a firm that was to dominate the lithographic market in Detroit. By the 1880s it had become one of the largest lithographers in the U.S., employing over 300 people. In 1897 the legal name of the company was changed to “Calvert Lithography Company”. The firm continued long after Calvert’s death in 1900 and sometime after 1960 was taken over by a Canadian firm.

TOBACCO LABEL. "Southdown." ca. 1880.
Southdown. Trade Mark. Maclin-Zimmer-McGill Tobacco Co. Incorporated Petersburg, VA. U.S.A. Lower left: Registered U.S. Patent Office. 10”w x 10”h. Colored lithograph. Image in very good condition. This label is probably a leftover copy printed during the 1880’s. Such labels were pasted on crates (also called caddies) or barrels of tobacco.

This label depicts four blackface sheep in a meadow. The face and feet of Southdown sheep vary in color from gray to brown. The Southdown, one of the oldest English breeds, is a mutton breed of sheep originating on the South Downs of Sussex, England. It is now raised throughout the world and was first imported to the United States in 1803. It is a small sheep, the most thickset of all breeds, and it is valued for the meatiness of the lamb carcasses. The wool is of medium length and fine grade.

THEODOLITE POSTER. c1920.
Precision Theodolites. 24”h x 17”w. Excellent condition. Full color. Metal strip and eyelet hanger at top. Under title: Buff & Buff Instrument Shops. Boston, Massachusetts U. S. A.

This is an advertising poster showing a transit on a wooden tripod. George Louis Buff (1837–1923) was born and educated in Giessen, Germany. He moved to New York in 1864, and in 1869 went into business with his newly designed “Buff’s Precision Transit” which remained in production for at least 70 years. In 1898 he went into business with his sons in a new factory at Jamaica Plain on the outskirts of Boston.

TOBACCO LABEL. Calvert. "Triumph". Ca. 1900.
Triumph. Motto under the scene: So thy Fair hand Enamored Fancy! Gleans the Treasured Picture of a Thousand Scenes.Firm: Watson & McGill. Petersburg, Virginia. Lower left: The Calvert Lith Co. Detroit.

Depicts two chariots racing, both pulled by a single horse. Both charioteers are women, one in pink, and the other in blue.

The tobacco firm “Watson & McGill” was in business in Petersburg from ca. 1830 to 1920.

Thomas Calvert immigrated from England in 1849 and the founded his first graphic arts firm in Philadelphia in 1852. He incorporated “The Calvert Lithographing, Engraving and Map Publishing Company” in 1867, a firm that was to dominate the lithographic market in Detroit. By the 1880s it had become one of the largest lithographers in the U.S., employing over 300 people. In 1897 the legal name of the company was changed to “Calvert Lithography Company”. The firm continued long after Calvert’s death in 1900 and sometime after 1960 was taken over by a Canadian firm.

TOBACCO LABEL. Hoen. "Winner". ca. 1890.
Winner Plug Tobacco Manufactured by British-American Tobacco Co., Ltd. Petersburg, Virginia. Lower right: Lith by A. Hoen & Co. Richmond, VA. Image is 10”w x 10”h. Colored lithograph. Image in very good condition. This label is probably a leftover copy printed during the 1890’s. Such labels were pasted on crates (also called caddies) and barrels of tobacco.

This tobacco label depicts horses jumping through a giant stirrup during a steeplechase.

A. Hoen & Co. originally a Baltimore, Maryland-based lithography firm, was founded by Edward Weber in the 1840s as E. Weber & Company. German immigrant August Hoen took it over with his brothers Henry and Ernest in the mid 1850s, upon Weber's death, and re-named it. A branch of A. Hoen opened in Richmond, Virginia in the late 1860s. Among Hoen's earliest Richmond jobs was the printing of Southern currency near the end of the Civil War. In the newer Richmond plant the quality of inks and paper stock, as well as the multi-layer lithography process itself saw great advances, to the point where most Hoen-produced covers and cigar boxes from the 1890s forward still retain their original hues after more than a century. Hoen used the five color multi-layer process for his printing. The British American Tobacco has been in business since 1902 as a joint venture between the UK’s Imperial Tobacco Company and the American Tobacco Company founded by James ‘Buck’ Duke. Despite its name, derived from the home bases of its two founding companies, British American Tobacco was established to trade outside both the UK and the USA and grew to cover Africa, Asia, Latin America and Continental Europe.

TOBACCO LABEL. Calvert. ca. 1900.
Zimmer & Co. Petersburg, VA. U.S.A. Lower left: The Calvert Lith. Co. Detroit. Image is 10”w x 10”h. Colored lithograph. Image in very good condition. This label is probably a leftover copy printed during the 1900s. Such labels were pasted on crates (also called caddies) or barrels of tobacco.

This tobacco label depicts a young blue-eyed girl with a lake in the background and flowers in the foreground. The tobacco brand is not identified.

Thomas Calvert immigrated from England in 1849 and the founded his first graphic arts firm in Philadelphia in 1852. He incorporated “The Calvert Lithographing, Engraving and Map Publishing Company” in 1867, a firm that was to dominate the lithographic market in Detroit. By the 1880s it had become one of the largest lithographers in the U.S., employing over 300 people. In 1897 the legal name of the company was changed to “Calvert Lithography Company”. The firm continued long after Calvert’s death in 1900 and sometime after 1960 was taken over by a Canadian firm.

TOBACCO PLANT. Winterbotham. THE FIRST COLOR PLATE PUBLISHED IN AMERICAN BOOK. 1795/1799.
Tobacco Plant. 4 ½”w x 7 ¼”h. Right edge chipped, but not into image . Image very good. Original hand color.

Published in W. Winterbotham, An Historical, Geographical, Commercial, and Philosophical View of the United States…. 2nd edition. London: H.D. Symonds, 1799. Howe’s W581.

This is the rare hand-colored tobacco plate from Volume III, opposite page 427. This plate of the tobacco plant is the first color plate published in an American book.

ELM TREE. Strutt. 1823.
Wych Elm at Bagot’s Mill. Lower left in plate margin: J. G. Strutt 1823. 14 ¼”w x 11”h. Etching. Foxing in margins. Colored. Mounted on a 21”w x 14 ½”h page of the following book.

From Jacob George Strutt, Sylva Britannica, or Portraits of Forest Trees, Distinguished for Their Antiquity, Magnitude, or Beauty. Drawn from Nature. Various editions, 1822, 1826. 1830 and 1838. Bagot’s Mill was located in Blithfield, Staffordshire, England.

Jacob George Strutt (1784-1867) was painter and etcher, not a botanical draftsman. He studied in London, and was a contributor to the Royal Academy and British Institution at intervals between 1819 and 1858. For a few years he practiced portrait-painting, but from 1824 to 1831 exhibited studies of forest scenery, and he is now best known by two sets of etchings which he published at this period Sylva Britannica, or Portraits of Forest Trees distinguished for their Antiquity (1822, 1826, 1830 and reissued 1838), from which this print was removed, and Deliciae Sylvarum; or, Grand and Romantic Forest Scenery in England and Scotland (1828). About 1831 Strutt went abroad, and, after living for a time in Lausanne, settled in Rome producing landscapes of the Italian countryside. In 1851 he returned to England, but was not active after 1858.

YEW TREE. Strutt. 1823.
The Yew Trees at Fountains Abbey. Lower left in plate margin: J. G. Strutt 1823. 14 ½”w x 11 ½”h. Etching. Foxing in margins. Colored. Mounted on 21"w x 14 1/2"h page from the following book.

From Jacob George Strutt, Sylva Britannica, or Portraits of Forest Trees, Distinguished for Their Antiquity, Magnitude, or Beauty. Drawn from Nature. Various editions, 1822, 1826. 1830 and 1838. Fountain's Abbey was located in Ripon, Yorkshire, England.

Strutt (1784-1867) was a landscape painter and etcher rather than a botanical draftsman in the strict sense. He was essentially a delineator of forest scenes rather than tree anatomy. He studied in London and was a contributor to the Royal Academy and the Society of British Artists. From 1824 to 1831 he exhibited studies of forest scenery and was best known for two sets of etchings, Sylva Britannica, from which this print came, and Grand and Romantic Forest Scenery in England and Scotland. Later he moved to Rome and produced landscapes of the Italian countryside.

FLAGS. Sinclair. ca. 1850.
A Chart of National Flags. Published by Henry Bill. New York. T. Sinclair's Lith Philad'a. 18"h x 21"w. Color. Excellent condition. Lithograph by Thomas Sinclair, Philadelphia.

Shows 105 flags, mostly national flags and a few merchant and pilot's flags. In the 1850s Italy was being created from several kingdoms, states and cities; many of their flags are shown. Similarly, in the early 1800s German states formed the Germanic Confederation; the German Empire was created at the close of the Franco-Prussian war in 1871. Thus, several flags of German states and cities are shown. The flag of the Ionian Republic has the Union Jack in the upper left and a winged lion in the field. The Ionian Islands were a British protectorate during 1815 to 1864.

INSTRUMENTS. Diderot. c1776.
Eighteen sheets of instruments and related geometry. From Denis Diderot’s (1713-1784) famous Encyclopédie ou dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers (Encyclopedia or Systematic Dictionary of Sciences, Arts and Trades), commonly called the Encyclopédie. It was published in increments during the period 1751 to 1772. Supplements were published in 1776 through 1780. Image size approximately 8” w x 13”h on sheets 10 ¾”w x 16 ½”h.

Astronomie [Astronomy]. Eight sheets, sequentially numbered: “Suppl. Pl. 1 [through 8]”, showing astronomical instruments and related spherical geometry. Engraved by Benard.

Gnomonique [Gnomon – (Dialing)]. Six sheets (Plates 2-7) related to telling time by the use of shadows. Most of the instruments are illustrated in their inclined position to show that latitude must be considered when measuring time by the sun. Included are geometric figures illustrating how the devices were showing time.

The original meanings of “dial” were “sundial” and “clock dial”, from Latin dialis = "pertaining to or belonging to Jupiter” or “of one day”, because of its use in telling the time of day. Today the term often refers to mechanical devices such as sundials, clock dials, or the circular display of clocks and watches. The term “dial” is also used for a circular display device in radio, measuring instruments, etc. Even “dial a telephone number” comes from the dial on rotary phones until the advent of the keypad. Engraved by Benard.

Géographie [Geography]. Three sheets showing globes, globe gores, and related spherical geometry. Drawn and engraved by Benard.

Navigation. One sheet (“Pl. 1.”) showing instruments and related spherical and plane geometry. Drawn by Groussier. Engraved by Benard.

NEWSPAPER. New-York Times. 1865.
The New-York Times. Imprint: Vol. XV......No. 4400. New York. Wednesday, November 1, 1865. Price Five Cents.

Eight pages. The first page contains ¾ column “Important from Europe”, 3 ¼ columns “American Topics” , 1/4 column “Terrible Gale at Sea” describing a hurricane in the Florida Keys, ½ column “The Russian-American Telegraph” and ¼ column “Release of John Mitchell”. This latter is a significant event in Irish History.

John Mitchell (1815-1875) was a journalist, revolutionary, and historian born in Ireland. He had been released from prison in the U.S. by President Johnson after pleas from the Fenian Brotherhood in 1865. The Fenian Brotherhood traces its origins back to 1798 and the United Irishmen, who began as an open political organization only to be suppressed. It later became a secret revolutionary organization and rose in rebellion, seeking an end to British rule in Ireland and the establishment of an Irish Republic. The rebellion was suppressed, but the principles of the United Irishmen had a powerful influence on the course of Irish history. While still in Ireland, in 1843 Mitchell began to write for The Nation, and in 1847 he became its editor. His militancy alienated many moderate nationalists, however, and he left to found The United Irishman. He was shipped by the British to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) for treason-felony in May 1848. He wrote His Jail Journal, or Five Years in British Prisons (1854); it became a central text of Irish nationalism. He escaped to the United States in 1853 where he led a turbulent and contentious career as a journalist, editing the proslavery journal Citizen (1854–55) in New York City and the Richmond Enquirer during the Civil War. After a short imprisonment (1865) for his Confederate activities, he was released by President Johnson and became the acknowledged leader of the Irish-American nationalists.

BIRD PLATE. Martinet. 1768.
Histoire Naturelle. Lower left: Martinet del. Lower right: Benard Fecit. 13”h x 8”w. Upper right corner: Pl. XLIII. Engraving on laid paper. Engraved by Robert Benard after François Nicolas Martinet (1731-c1790). Scales in “Pouces” [inches] incorporated in the image.

Four birds, realistically posed, on one plate:

Fig. 1. Gobe – Mouche Hupé de Madagascar. (Flycatcher of Madagascar.)
Fig. 2. Le Pique – Bœuf. (Red-Billed Oxpecker)
Fig. 3. Etourneau du Cap de Bonn Espérance. (Starling of the Cape of Good Hope.)
Fig. 4. Paon de Mer. (Sea Peacock.)

Published in thel'Encyclopédie, ou Dictionnaire Raisonné des Sciences, des Arts et des Métiers, edited by Denis Diderot (1713-1784) and Jean le Rond d'Alembert (1717-1783). The first volume of text was published in 1751. Six others followed at approximately yearly intervals until 1757. The last 10 were published in 1765. The 11 volumes of plates were published during the period 1762 to 1772. These were followed in 1776-1777 by four volumes of supplementary text and one volume of plates. The two-volume index was published in 1780. All together there were 35 volumes with 23 volumes of text containing 72,000 articles written by 140 authors plus 12 volumes of some 2900 plates. Originally sold by subscription, the Encyclopédie went through several editions and about 4,500 copies were sold.

The plate volumes were titled: Recueil de Planches, Sur les Sciences, les Arts Libéraux, et les Arts Méchaniques, avec Leur Explication. The plate described above is from the “Sixieme Volume” of plates, published in 1768.

François Nicolas Martinet (1731-c1790) illustrated birds in books by some of the most influential ornithologists in 18th-century France. He had been trained as an engineer and draftsman. Illustrating books appears to have begun as a secondary profession, for which he is now famous. Toward the end of his career, Martinet drew upon his experience in engraving birds for others to publish his own ornithology books, producing plates until his death sometime in the late 1780s or early 1790s (sources disagree on the year).

BIRD PLATE. Martinet. 1768.
Histoire Naturelle. Lower left: Martinet del. Lower right: Benard Fecit. Upper right corner: Pl. XLII. 13”h x 8”w. Hand-colored engraving on laid paper. Engraved by Robert Benard, a French engraver, from the drawing by François Nicolas Martinet (1731-c1790).

Six birds, realistically posed, on one plate:

Fig. 1. Grimpereau Bleu de Cayenne. (Blue Creeper of Cayenne.) Fig. 2. Colibri de Cayenne. (Hummingbird.) Fig. 3. L’Oiseau – Mouche. (Hummingbird.) Fig. 4. L’Oiseau Mouche Hupe. Fig. 5. Bec – Figue de St. Domingue. (Fly Catcher) Fig. 6. Torchepot du Canada. (Red-breasted Nuthatch.)

Published in the l'Encyclopédie, ou Dictionnaire Raisonné des Sciences, des Arts et des Métiers, edited by Denis Diderot (1713-1784) and Jean le Rond d'Alembert (1717-1783). The first volume of text was published in 1751. Six others followed at approximately yearly intervals until 1757. The last 10 were published in 1765. The 11 volumes of plates were published during the period 1762 to 1772. These were followed in 1776-1777 by four volumes of supplementary text and one volume of plates. The two-volume index was published in 1780. All together there were 35 volumes with 23 volumes of text containing 72,000 articles written by 140 authors plus 12 volumes of some 2900 plates. Approximately 4,500 copies of the Encyclopédie were sold.

The plate volumes were titled: .Recueil de Planches, Sur les Sciences, les Arts Libéraux, et les Arts Méchaniques, avec Leur Explication. The plate described above is from the “Sixieme Volume” of plates, published in 1768.

François Nicolas Martinet (1731-c1790) illustrated birds in books by some of the most influential ornithologists in 18th-century France. He had been trained as an engineer and draftsman. Illustrating books appears to have begun as a secondary profession, for which he is now famous. Toward the end of his career, Martinet drew upon his experience in engraving birds for others to publish his own ornithology books, producing plates until his death sometime in the late 1780s or early 1790s (sources disagree on the year).

BIRD PLATE. Cuckoos. Martinet. c1768.
Histoire Naturelle. Lower left: Martinet del. Lower right: Benard Fecit. 13”h x 8”w. Upper right corner: Pl. XLI. Hand-colored engraving on laid paper. Engraved by Robert Benard after François Nicolas Martinet (1731-c1790). Scale in “Pouces” [inches] incorporated in the image.

Four birds, realistically posed, on one plate:

Fig. 1. Le Barbu de Cayenne. (Barbet of French Guiana.) Fig. 2. Le Coucou Bleu de la Chine. (Blue Cuckoo of China.) Fig. 3. Le Couroucou Verd de Cayenne. (GreenTrogon.) Note: The South American Couroucou, or Trogon curucui, is the smallest bird in the world other than the humming bird family. Fig. 4. Le Bout de Petun. (Razor-billed Blackbird.)

Published in the l'Encyclopédie, ou Dictionnaire Raisonné des Sciences, des Arts et des Métiers, edited by Denis Diderot (1713-1784) and Jean le Rond d'Alembert (1717-1783). The first volume of text was published in 1751. Six others followed at approximately yearly intervals until 1757. The last 10 were published in 1765. The 11 volumes of plates were published during the period 1762 to 1772. These were followed in 1776-1777 by four volumes of supplementary text and one volume of plates. The two-volume index was published in 1780. All together there were 35 volumes with 23 volumes of text containing 72,000 articles written by 140 authors plus 12 volumes of some 2900 plates. Approximately 4,500 copies of the Encyclopédie were sold.

The plate volumes were titled: Recueil de Planches, Sur les Sciences, les Arts Libéraux, et les Arts Méchaniques, avec Leur Explication. The plate described above is from the “Sixieme Volume” of plates, published in 1768.

François Nicolas Martinet illustrated birds in books by some of the most influential ornithologists in 18th-century France. He had been trained as an engineer and draftsman. Illustrating books appears to have begun as a secondary profession, for which he is now famous. Toward the end of his career, Martinet drew upon his experience in engraving birds for others to publish his own ornithology books, producing plates until his death sometime in the late 1780s or early 1790s (sources disagree on the year).

Habert-Dys, Jules-Auguste. BIRDS. 1887.
Vol d'oiseaux. [Flight of birds.] Upper left: Planche 5. Upper right: Fantasies Décoratives. Lower left: Habert-Dys, del. Lower right: J. Rouam, Editeur, Paris. Bottom center: Grav. impr. par Gillot. 79, rue Madame. Image is 7 ½”w x 10 ½”h on 8 ¾”w x 10 ½”h sheet laid on 12”w x 16”h white heavy stock. Original color lithograph. Outer margins of the white sheet have some light foxing. Image is very good. Plate 5. The image was drawn by Jules Auguste Habert-Dys (b.1850). The lithographer and printer of the plate was Charles Gillot (1853-1903).

Published in Fantaisies Décoratives composées par J. Habert-Dys.... Paris: Librairie de l'Art, 1886-1887. J. Rouam, editor.

A study in bird flight showing birds in 22 different positions.

GANNET. Audubon. c1856.
Common Gannet. Lower left: Drawn from Nature by J.J. Audubon, F.R.S.F.L.S Lower right: Lith’d. Printed & Col’d. by J.T. Bowen Philad’a. Upper left: [Part Number] No. 85. Upper right: Pl. 425. Image 5”w x 7”h on 6 ¾”w x 10 ¾”h sheet with book binding marks at the upper margin. This is not a photographic reprint. Lightly toned; upper margin chipped at edge, but image in very good condition. From J. J. Audubon’s The Birds of America from Drawings Made in the United States and its Territories.

This is a colored lithograph after John James Audubon (1785-1851) by John T. Bowen (1801-1856). The initials “F.R.S.F.L.S.” after Audubon’s name stand for Fellow, Royal Society; Fellow, Linnean Society. They were the two top natural history societies in England at that time.

The common Gannet is found on the coasts of the North Atlantic; on the American side going south in winter to the Gulf of Mexico, and on the European side to North Africa, Madeira, and the Canary Islands. It has a close dense plumage of general whitish color, buff yellow on the head and hind neck, and the bill is pale bluish grey. It is a large bird, approximately 40 inches long with a 38-inch wingspan. As shown on the plate, the young are mostly brown with some white above and grayish white below.

Audubon’s Birds of America from Original Drawings by John James Audubon, was a huge, double elephant folio-size work comprised of 435 hand-colored engravings in four volumes, printed in England during the years 1827-1838. The plate size was about 29” x 39”. W. H. Lizars began to produce the first plates. However, after the completion of only ten plates, Lizars' colorists went on strike, and Audubon turned to Robert Havell, a London engraver, to complete the task of engraving, printing and painting the plates based on Audubon’s original watercolors. This edition is referred to as the Havell edition.

Following the success of his large folio edition Audubon offered a miniature or “Royal Octavo Edition” which was lithographed and hand-colored in Philadelphia during 1839-44 by John T. Bowen. This was the only of the octavo editions personally supervised by Audubon. The 1st edition of The Birds of America from Drawings Made in the United States and its Territories was published in 100 parts and also in seven volumes by Audubon and J.B. Chevalier, New York and Philadelphia, 1840-1844. Unlike the folio edition described above this was issued with text and was considerably smaller. The part number shown at the upper left refers to the group of five issued at one time, making a total of 500 prints.

Subsequent editions of the smaller (octavo) size with the same title were published from 1856 (this was after Audubon's death in 1851) to about 1871. They were printed in color rather than hand-colored. These are often called “Second Editions” regardless of when published (1856, 1859, 1860, 1861, 1865, and 1870-71).

GROUSE. Hardwick. 1829.
The Singed Grous. Pterocles Exustus. Male. Lower left: Mus. Genl. Hardwick. Bottom: London. Published by Whittaker & Co. Ave Maria Lane. Oct. 1829. 8 ¾”h x 5 ¼’w (to plate marks) on 9 ¼” h x 5 ½”w sheet.

The belly of the male is brown, as if scorched. Pterocles Exustus is now commonly called the “Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse” which is found in sparse, bushy, arid land in central and northern Africa, and southern Asia. Although they live in hot, arid climates, they are highly reliant on water. Their diets consist mainly of seeds, grasses and herbs. They have small, pigeon-like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. Legs are feathered down to the toes. Sandgrouse have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk.

Major General Hardwick (1755-1835), FRS, also Hardwicke in some literature, was a naturalist, collecting especially India, the Indian Ocean and Africa. He donated his collections to the British Museum. The fact that his work was featured in an 1830 book by J.E Gray, The Illustrations of Indian Zoology, chiefly selected from the collection of General Hardwicke, attests to the level of Hardwick’s interest in zoology. John E. Gray donated a lithographic portrait of General Hardwick from a painting by Lucas to The Royal Society of London in 1831.

JAY. Audubon. c1856.
Ultramarine Jay. Lower left: Drawn from Nature by J.J. Audubon, F.R.S.F.L.S Lower right: Lith’d. Printed & Col’d. by J.T. Bowen Philad’a. Upper left: [Part Number] No. 47. Upper right: Pl. 232. Image 5”w x 7 ¼”h on 6 ¾”w x 10 ½”h sheet with book binding marks at the left margin. This is not a photographic reprint. Lightly toned; upper margin chipped at corners, but image in very good condition. From J. J. Audubon’s The Birds of America from Drawings Made in the United States and its Territories.

This is a colored lithograph after John James Audubon (1785-1851) by John T. Bowen (1801-1856). The initials “F.R.S.F.L.S.” after Audubon’s name stand for Fellow, Royal Society; Fellow, Linnean Society. They were the two top natural history societies in England at that time.

The Ultramarine Jay (Scrub Jay is found throughout western North America and Florida. The Ultramarine Jay is unique because it lacks a crest. The upper part of the head, sides and back of the neck, wings and tail are light blue and the male is 12 inches long. Most Jays are omnivorous, eating seeds and nuts, but sometimes steal eggs.

Audubon’s Birds of America from Original Drawings by John James Audubon, was a huge, double elephant folio-size work comprised of 435 hand-colored engravings in four volumes, printed in England during the years 1827-1838. The plate size was about 29” x 39”. W. H. Lizars began to produce the first plates. However, after the completion of only ten plates, Lizars' colorists went on strike, and Audubon turned to Robert Havell, a London engraver, to complete the task of engraving, printing and painting the plates based on Audubon’s original watercolors. This edition is referred to as the Havell edition.

Following the success of his large folio edition Audubon offered a miniature or “Royal Octavo Edition” which was lithographed and hand-colored in Philadelphia during 1839-44 by John T. Bowen. This was the only of the octavo editions personally supervised by Audubon. The 1st edition of The Birds of America from Drawings Made in the United States and its Territories was published in 100 parts and also in seven volumes by Audubon and J.B. Chevalier, New York and Philadelphia, 1840-1844. Unlike the folio edition described above, this was issued with text and was considerably smaller. The part number shown at the upper left refers to the group of five issued at one time, making a total of 500 prints.

Subsequent editions of the smaller (octavo) size had the same title and were published from 1856 (this was after Audubon's death in 1851) to about 1871. They were printed in color rather than hand-colored. These are often called “Second Editions” regardless of when published (1856, 1859, 1860, 1861, 1865, and 1870-71).

COLLARED PLOVER. Curtis. 1828.
Collared Plover. Var? Charadrius Jamaicensis. Gm? 5 ½”w x 9”h to platemarks. Imprint: London. Published by G. B. Whittaker. June 1828. Lower left: C.M. Curtis del. Revd. Mr. Hannah’s Mus. Hand colored. Faint stain at right. Otherwise very good condition.

From the title it is obvious that either Curtis or Hannah had questions about the identification of this bird. The Collared Plover, now Charadrius collaris, is a small wader in the plover bird family. It breeds from Mexico south through Central America and most of South America. It also occurs on some of the southern Caribbean islands, and both Trinidad and Tobago. At that time it must have been seen on Jamaica. It appears to be mainly sedentary with limited seasonal movements.

QUAIL. Smith. 1828.
St. Lorenzo Quail. Lower left: C. Hamilton Smith Esqe. delt. Bottom center: London. Published by G.B. Whittaker Oct. 1828. 5 ¼”w x 9”h between plate marks. Colored.

Charles Hamilton Smith (1776-1859) was an Englishman of enormous talents: a soldier, scientist, artist and author.

As a scientist he exchanged letters with Charles Darwin. As an example of his scientific work, among his writings was The Natural History of the Human Speciespublished in London in 1848 and 1852, and 1855 (Boston).

Another example of his scientific work concerns classifying plant and animals. In 1753, a scientist in Sweden named Carolus Linnaeus thought of an orderly system for classifying plants and animals. He grouped all organisms according to a two-part name (binomial). The first part of the name is the "generic" grouping or genus. The second part is the "specific" grouping or species. When Linnaeus first classified the bison in 1758 for his 10th Edition of his Systema Naturae, he assigned the animal to “Bos”, the same genus as domestic cattle. (In North America the bison is commonly called the buffalo.) During the 19th Century, taxidermists determined that there was adequate anatomical distinctiveness to warrant assigning the bison to its own genus. Therefore, in 1827, C. Hamilton Smith assigned the sub-generic name “Bison” to the American bison and European bison.

MERGANSER. Audubon. c1856.
White Merganser, Snew, White Nun. Lower left: Drawn from Nature by J.J. Audubon, F.R.S.F.L.S Lower right: Bowen & Co. lith. & col Philada. Upper left: [Part Number] No. 83. Upper right: Pl. 414. Image 5”w x 7”h on 6 ¾”w x 10 ¾”h sheet. Lightly toned; upper margin chipped, but image in very good condition. This is not a photographic reprint. From J. J. Audubon’s The Birds of America from Drawings Made in the United States and its Territories.

This is a colored lithograph after John James Audubon (1785-1851) by John T. Bowen (1801-1856). The initials “F.R.S.F.L.S.” after Audubon’s name stand for Fellow, Royal Society; Fellow, Linnean Society. They were the two top natural history societies in England at that time.

Mergansers are allied with ducks, but have a sharply serrated bill, eat fish, and dive for food. Audubon found only one in the United States – a female he shot near New Orleans in 1819.

Audubon’s Birds of America from Original Drawings by John James Audubon, was a huge, double elephant folio-size work comprised of 435 hand-colored engravings in four volumes, printed in England during the years 1827-1838. The plate size was about 29” x 39”. W. H. Lizars began to produce the first plates. However, after the completion of only ten plates, Lizars' colorists went on strike, and Audubon turned to Robert Havell, a London engraver to complete the task of engraving, printing and painting the plates based on Audubon’s original watercolors. This edition is referred to as the Havell edition.

Following the success of his large folio edition Audubon offered a miniature or “Royal Octavo Edition” which was lithographed and hand-colored in Philadelphia during 1839-44 by John T. Bowen. This was the only of the octavo editions personally supervised by Audubon. The 1st edition of The Birds of America from Drawings Made in the United States and its Territories was published in seven volumes by Audubon and J.B. Chevalier, New York and Philadelphia, 1840-1844. Unlike the folio edition described above this was issued with text and was considerably smaller.

Subsequent editions of the smaller (octavo) size with the same title were published from 1856 (this was after Audubon's death in 1851) to about 1871. They were printed in color rather than hand-colored. These are often called “Second Editions” regardless of when published (1856, 1859, 1860, 1861, 1865, and 1870-71).

TERN. Audubon. c1856.
Roseate Tern. Lower left: Drawn from Nature by J.J. Audubon, F.R.S.F.L.S. Center under image: Light House, St. John, New Brunswick. Lower right: Lith. & Col'd. by Bowen & Co, Philada. Upper left:[Part Number] No. 88. Upper right: Pl. 437. Image 5”w x 7 ½”h on 6 ¾”w x 10 ½”h sheet with book binding marks at left margin. This is not a photographic reprint. Lightly toned, but very good condition. From J. J. Audubon’s The Birds of America from Drawings Made in the United States and its Territories.

This is a colored lithograph after John James Audubon (1785-1851) by John T. Bowen (1801-1856). The initials “F.R.S.F.L.S.” after Audubon’s name stand for Fellow, Royal Society; Fellow, Linnean Society. They were the two top natural history societies in England at that time.

The name Roseate Tern derives from the faint pink hue on the breast. Sexes look similar, with a slender pale pearly gray-white body, black cap, deeply forked tail with long outer tail feathers, long red legs, and a long, thin, black bill which reddens at the base as the breeding season progresses, then reverts to black again. Roseate Terns forage in coastal waters, and nest on islands and ocean coasts. Source: National Audubon Society.

Birds of America from Original Drawings by John James Audubon, was a huge, double elephant folio-size work comprised of 435 hand-colored engravings in four volumes, printed in England during the years 1827-1838. The plate size was about 29” x 39”. W. H. Lizars began to produce the first plates. However, after the completion of only ten plates, Lizars' colorists went on strike, and Audubon turned to Robert Havell, a London engraver, to complete the task of engraving, printing and painting the plates based on Audubon’s original watercolors. This edition is referred to as the Havell edition.

Following the success of his large folio edition Audubon offered a miniature or “Royal Octavo Edition” which was lithographed and hand-colored in Philadelphia during 1840-44 by John T. Bowen. This was the only of the octavo editions personally supervised by Audubon. The 1st edition of The Birds of America from Drawings Made in the United States and its Territories was published in 100 parts and also in seven volumes by Audubon and J.B. Chevalier, New York and Philadelphia, 1840-1844. Unlike the folio edition described above, this was issued with text and was considerably smaller. The part number shown at the upper left refers to the group of five issued at one time, making a total of 500 prints.

Subsequent editions of the smaller (octavo) size had the same title and were published from 1856 (this was after Audubon's death in 1851) to about 1871. They were printed in color rather than hand-colored. These are often called “Second Editions” regardless of when published (1856, 1859, 1860, 1861, 1865, and 1870-71).