John J. Audubon (Haiti/New York, 1785-1851) Havell edition "Birds of America" aquatint with engraving and hand coloring in watercolors depicting five birds perched on a blasted tree. Identified in lower right quadrant as "Gold-winged Woodpecker, Male 1 F2/ Picus Auratus." Printed in upper register is "No. 3" and "Plate 37" in Arabic numerals. Printed in lower right is "Engraved by Rob't Havell, Junr. Printed & Coloured by Robert Havell, Senr. London. 1828." Printed in lower left is "Drawn from Nature and Published by John J. Audubon. F.R.S.E. F.L.S. M.W.S." Partial "J. Whatman Turkey Mills" watermark, upper left. Housed in a modern wood frame with gilt fillet and black-and-gold painted glass border. Sheet: 31 3/16" x 25" W. Framed: 33 1/2" H x 28 1/4" W. Note: "In about 1820, John James Audubon declared an ambitious intent to paint every bird in North America and to fund it by selling groups of printed plates of his paintings to subscribers. He insisted on the book's large format–printed on the largest handmade sheets available at that time–in order to portray the birds in their actual size and natural habitat. The result was the ornithological masterpiece, "The Birds of America," Havell Edition, published periodically 1826-1838. There were 435 different prints of 497 bird species and an estimated 180 complete sets were produced; today about 110 (some sources say 120) remain intact as bound book volumes owned by museums, institutions, and private individuals." Source: "The Audubon Price Guide" by Ron Flynn.

PROVENANCE: Private West Tennessee Collection.

CONDITION: Examined out of frame. Sheet has been trimmed and is hinge mounted to mat. Print has a partial watermark with lost date line due to trimming. Condition is overall good, with mild foxing and soiling including scuffs along the lower border, outside of sight and perhaps related to the plate mark. There is faint toning throughout.