After John James Audubon (Haiti/New York, 1785-1851) hand-colored lithograph that depicts a life-sized skunk with tail raised in the air and a bird trapped under its long front claws, 1845. Plate 53 from the imperial folio edition of The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America published by J.T. Bowen. Lettering text reads “No. 11” and  “Plate LIII,” upper corners, plus “Drawn From Nature by J.J. Audubon, F.R.S. F.R.S,” “Mephitis Mesoleuca, Licht. / Texan Skunk. / Natural Size,” and “Lith[ographe]d Printed & Col[ore]d by J.T. Bowen, Philad[elphi]a 1845,” lower margin. Housed under glass in a wooden frame with cream mat. Sight: 23 1/2 in H x 18 1/2 in W. Frame: 34 in H x 28 1/2 in W. 

PROVENANCE: Private Kentucky collection, by descent from Jeannette Marks of Lexington. 

CONDITION: Overall very good condition, with waviness to sheet and areas of discoloration or toning, especially in sky at upper left. Faint lines or old creases run horizontally through sky, 13 inch L, and vertically from lower left edge, 4 inch L. Not examined out of frame. Frame with minor abrasions and losses.