"Hudsonian Godwit", Audubon, J. J.

This is Plate 349 from Audubon's Royal Octavo Edition of Birds of America, which was lithographed and hand colored by J. T. Bowen. The Royal Octavo Edition was Audubon's effort to make his work more affordable and widely available. Using new technology called the camera lucida, the images from the Double Elephant Folio edition were reduced in size and drawn onto lithographic stones, with some compositional changes made to accommodate the smaller size. The plates were sold by subscription, five at a time, with the number at top left on each engraving indicating in which "part" the engraving was issued. This lovely engraving depicts a male Hudsonian Godwit in breeding plumage at left next to a female in summer plumage. While in Boston in 1832, a hunter brought Audubon several birds of this species. Audubon's son drew the female specimen, and Audubon drew the male at a later date. Audubon chose to portray the male in this unusual position in order to illustrate the black color on the inner wing, a distinguishing mark of the Hudsonian Godwit. The sheet measures 10.3 x 6.6".

References: Low, Susanne, p. 143.

Condition: A

Light toning in blank margins, a tiny tear just below Audubon's imprint, and a minute hole in bottom blank margin only visible when held to light.