Havell Edition Audubon Engraving

"Least Stormy-Petrel, Thalassidroma Pelagica", Audubon, J. J.

This original aquatint is Plate 340 from the double-elephant folio Havell edition of Audubon’s great work on American ornithology, which is the most important ornithological work produced in America. The complete work was produced in less than 200 copies. Audubon traveled throughout the U.S. and recorded 435 life-size images of every native bird in the country, depicting them in natural poses in their native habitats. This engraving depicts a male and a female European Storm-Petrel flying over a blue sea. The male, on the right, appears to be attempting to pick up seaweed from the surface of the water. Audubon collected Storm-Petrel specimen on a ship off the Grand Banks in 1831, while returning to America after his second trip to England. Engraved, printed and hand colored by Robert Havell. The papermaker's watermark "J. Whatman 1836" is along the top edge of the sheet at right. The full sheet measures 39-3/4 x 26-5/8".

References: Low, p. 173.

Condition: A

A clean, bright example with full, original color on watermarked paper. There are expert repairs to a long cut that extends horizontally near the bottom edge of the sheet, a good 5" below the image.