Description
Description of John J. Audubon's Birds of America Amsterdam Edition
John James Audubon's Birds of America has been called the greatest and finest
bird book of all time. As a result, countless
editions of this work have been published throughout the years. Included amongst
these editions is the The Amsterdam Edition which was published between
the years 1971 and 1972 in the Netherlands. Created in New York and
Amsterdam by the Johnson Reprint Corporation and Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, this
set was one of the most ambitious for it recreates all of the Audubons in their
original elephant folio sizes as they were published in Edinburgh between 1827
and 1838. This was the first recreation of the Audubons in elephant
folio size in 135 years. Elephant folio size is massive - measuring ~ 39
1/2" by ~26 1/4". The printing of these Audubons in Amsterdam
was done on 100% pure cotton rag paper (from the paper mill of G. Schut &
Zonen, founded in 1625) with an official Audubon watermark. The method
used was multi-color offset using up to eight different colors - the highest
standard. A large group of editors (Audubon experts) were used to make
sure that the quality of this work was the finest possible - including members
of the Smithsonian, the Department of the Interior, the Audubon Society, and
elsewhere. Only 250 copies of this set were ever produced for its
subscribers. The prints featured here are from a boxed edition, copy 107. The authentication reads, "The undersigned herewith declare that they will publish one single edition only of the full size facsimile of John James audubon, The Birds of America as it was published London 1827-1838, and that this edition, boxed or handbound, will be strictly limited to two hundred and fifty copies, printed on watermarked paper and numbered 1-250...The copy assigned to you is number 107."
The original 1971 price of this 435 plate set was $4500.
It has recently sold for $50,000. Most of this appreciation has occurred
over the past few years as Havell and Bien edition plates have gone out of
reach, leaving The Amsterdam Edition as the best alternative for collectors
looking for Audubon's in this size.