Ending Aug 7, 2025 12:43 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
163
The Abbeville Press facsimile of the elephant folio Audubon Birds of America
AUDUBON, JOHN JAMES
The Birds of America. New York: Abbeville Press, 1985. One of 350 sets of this fine facsimile edition. Four elephant folio plate volumes, bound in the publisher's gilt-decorated green morocco, housed in the original baize-lined case with sliding shelves and with six (of seven) of the accompanying text volumes. The folio plate volumes 39 1/2 x 26 inches (100 x 67 cm); the text 10 1/2 x 6 3/4 inches (26 x 18 cm); with 435 color plates. Some very minor wear, a few scratches to the wooden case, fine overall, but lacking the fifth volume of the Ornithological Biography.
This magnificent Abbeville facsimile of Audubon's monumental Birds of America, reproduces each of the "elephant folio" plates from the 1826-38 first edition copy owned by the National Audubon Society. The text volumes comprise a five-volume facsimile of Audubon's 1831-1849 Ornithological Biography (here missing volume V); a facsimile of Waldemar H. Fries' 1973 The Double Elephant Folio; and Roger Tory and Virginia Marie Peterson's Commentaries on Audubon's Birds of America.
Sold for $4,160
Estimated at $3,000 - $5,000
Includes Buyer's Premium
AUDUBON, JOHN JAMES
The Birds of America. New York: Abbeville Press, 1985. One of 350 sets of this fine facsimile edition. Four elephant folio plate volumes, bound in the publisher's gilt-decorated green morocco, housed in the original baize-lined case with sliding shelves and with six (of seven) of the accompanying text volumes. The folio plate volumes 39 1/2 x 26 inches (100 x 67 cm); the text 10 1/2 x 6 3/4 inches (26 x 18 cm); with 435 color plates. Some very minor wear, a few scratches to the wooden case, fine overall, but lacking the fifth volume of the Ornithological Biography.
This magnificent Abbeville facsimile of Audubon's monumental Birds of America, reproduces each of the "elephant folio" plates from the 1826-38 first edition copy owned by the National Audubon Society. The text volumes comprise a five-volume facsimile of Audubon's 1831-1849 Ornithological Biography (here missing volume V); a facsimile of Waldemar H. Fries' 1973 The Double Elephant Folio; and Roger Tory and Virginia Marie Peterson's Commentaries on Audubon's Birds of America.
Auction: Rare Books, Autographs & Maps, ending Aug 7, 2025
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Auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on August 7, 2025 Saw Competitive Bidding Drive Strong Results
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Henry S. Tanner's 1823 "New American Atlas" Achieves $21,760
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Consignments Are Currently Being Accepted for Future Auctions
NEW YORK, NY -- Doyle's auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on August 7, 2025 saw competitive bidding on a wide rang of property. This eclectic summer sale brought together such diverse offerings as Americana, literature, sporting books, manuscripts and early printing, travel and voyages, children's and illustrated books, fine bindings, autographs, maps and more. Also featured was an extensive offering of fascinating New York-related books, maps, photographs and ephemera from various collections and estates.
Highlighting the sale was an 1823 first edition of Henry S. Tanner’s “New American Atlas” that achieved $21,760. Widely regarded as the greatest American atlas of the 19th century, A New American Atlas Containing Maps of the Several States of the North American Union is among the earliest comprehensive mappings of the United States to be produced by an American publisher and printed in America. Remarkable for its size, uniform conception, cartographic accuracy and high-quality engraving, the atlas draws upon the most current source material of the time, supplemented by original surveys. Due to the high cost of production, it was initially sold by subscription, issued either in 5 parts or 3 parts. In 1823, the collected edition, as found here, was issued with 18 pages of explanatory text and the engraved title page with a vignette showing Columbus' first landing. This particular copy is complete in all parts and entirely original, untouched in its contemporary binding.
Topping the group of New York-related material in the sale was a curiosity from the city’s past -- a street sign for Bleecker Street and the Bowery that soared past its $250-350 estimate to realize a stunning $6,080. The painted metal "humpback" street sign dated to the first half of the 20th century.
Order of Sale
Lots 1–37 General Antiquarian
Lots 38–40 Science
Lots 41–77 Literature
Lots 78–93 Autographs
Lots 94–132 Fine Printing, Illustrated Books and Fine Arts
Lot 133–143 Fine Binding
Lot 144–148 Sporting
Lot 149–158 Travel
Lot 159–221 Americana
Lot 222–236 Maps and Atlases
Lots 237–274 Maps of New York and Environs
Lots 275–348 Books and Pamphlets on New York City
Lots 349–End Photographs of New York
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Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for complimentary auction estimates. Our Specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.
