"Rock Grous, Tetrao Rupestris", Audubon, J. J.

This is Plate CCCLXVIII (368) from the double-elephant folio Amsterdam edition of Audubon’s great work on American ornithology. The Audubon Amsterdam Edition was the first complete reproduction of John James Audubon’s original (1826-38) Birds of America Havell Edition. The reproductions were produced using color offset lithography and printed on watermarked 100% cotton rag acid-free paper. Only 250 complete sets of this limited edition were produced. This engraving depicts three Rock Ptarmigans (from left): a "young" in fall plumage, a female in summer plumage, and a male in winter plumage. Audubon made this drawing from specimens brought to him by Captain James Ross, whom he visited in England in 1834-36. Apparently Audubon confused his Ptarmigans with Grouses and vice versa due to the fact that local inhabitants used the terms somewhat interchangeably. The full sheet measures 39-1/4 x 26-3/8". Watermark reads "G. Schut & Zonen [JR Monogram] Audubon [OT Monogram]."

References: Low, Susanne, p. 187.

Condition: A+