Collie's Magpie Jays by J.J. Audubon - USA Scott 1241
Gotta tell you all today about an article that recently caught my attention. Written by John McEwen, it was featured in the Scotman’s ezine .
The title “How the Scottish capital helped inspire a force of nature” triggered my curiosity as “Everything Scotland” is always of great interest. 😉
John McEwen starts his article by announcing the new publication of John James Audubon’s Journal of 1826 and then goes on to give us a glimpse at Audubon’s life journey.
John James Audubon Journal of 1826 Voyage Birds Of America
Inside his journal, John James Audubon reveals how the time spent in Edinburgh was instrumental to his now famous work of art, “The Birds of America“, the world’s most valuable and expensive book!
In the video further down, we can see the dimension of the book’s page.
They are huge my friend => 90 cm x 65 cm as J.J. Audubon wanted his drawings to be nature size!
By the way, as mentioned on the selvage of the Canadian block of 4 stamps pictured below, 226 of the 435 plates that make up John James Audubon ” The Birds of America” depict typically Canadian birds. 😉
J.J.Audubon - Birds of America - Canada - Scott 1979-1982
Born in the French colony of Santo Domingo (now Haiti) in 1785, educated in France, where he started to explore the natural environment and developped his drawing talent, John James Audubon then moved to a family estate’s farm, near Philadelphia, in the United States.
“After first experimenting with migration and bird-banding from the family estate near Philadelphia, he moved to art. He earned a living as a portrait painter and for a short time taught drawing in New Orleans.
His Birds of America plates were printed between 1827 and 1838 by a Scottish publisher.’
” (…) Audubon arrived in Edinburgh still in search of a publisher. The “splendid city” immediately impressed him, not least its “wonderful cleanliness” after “Dirty Manchester”; and having taken a handsome set of rooms at 2 George Street he eagerly went calling.
John James Audubon - Source: http://www-tc.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters
After three fruitless days, during which he tramped as far as Leith, noting how similar the working women were, both in gait and the way they carried baskets strapped to their heads, to the “Indian Squaws of the West”, he thought of giving up and going to London.
The breakthrough came on the 30th. After another wasted morning he stormed into the printer Patrick Neill’s office “as if the World was about being convulsed”. Neill calmed him down and took him to meet William Lizars, the famed engraver.
One of Lizars current projects was the Illustrations of British Ornithology by Prideaux John Selby. He lavished praise on Selby as he accompanied the silent Audubon back to George Street to see the folio. “I slowly unbuckled the straps, and putting a chair for him to set, without uttering a Word, I turned up a Drawing! – Now, Lucy, poor Mr Selby was the suferer [sic] by that movement – Mr Lizars, quite surprised, exclaimed, ‘My God, I never saw anything like this before’.” Friendship was instant and three days later Lizars committed himself to publish the great work. (…) ”
John James Audubon & Pink Flamingo
The text, Ornithological Biography, came out in five volumes between 1831 and 1839.
Scottish naturalist William MacGillivray collaborated with Audubon on the text and provided much of the scientific data. By 1838, Audubon had completed more than 400 paintings.”
I remember when we read the passage in Sir Walter Scott’s Journal about his encounter in January 1827 with John James Audubon.
The Journal of Sir Walter Scott Canongate Classics 1998
Edinburgh, Monday 21 January 1827
A long day of some pain relieved by labour. Dr. Ross come in and recommended some stuff which did little good. I would like ill to lose the use of my precious limbs. Meanwhile patience, Cousin, shuffle the cards*Missie** dined with us to-day. An honest Scotch lass, ladylike and frank. I finishd about six leaves doing indeed little else.
(*) A favourite tag of Scott’s from Don Quixote, pt. ii, ch. 23
(**) Miss Macdonald Buchanan.
Edinburgh, Monday 22 January 1827
Work varied with camomile poultices – we get on though. A visit from Basil Hall with Mr. Audebon* the ornithologist who has followd that pursuit by many a long wandering in the American forests. He is american by naturalization, a Frenchman by birth, but less of a Frenchman than I have ever seen – no dash or glimmer or shine about him but great simplicity of manners and behaviour – slight in person and plainly dressd, wears long hair which time has not yet tinged – his countenance acute, handsome and interesting, but still simplicity is the predominant character. I wish I had gone to see his drawings. But I had heard so much about that I resolved not to see them – a crazy way of mine, your honour ! – five more leaves finishd.(*) John James Audubon. During his visit to Edinburgh he read a paper to the Royal Society on 9 February; he was later elected a Foreign Member.
Edinburgh, Monday 23 January 1827
I have got a piece of armour, a knee-cape of Shamoy leather, which I think does my unlucky rheumatism some good. I begin to sleep a night which is a great comfort. Spent this day completely in labour ; only betwixt dinner and tea while husbanding a tumbler of whisky and water I read the new novel Elizabeth de Bruce*– part of it that is –
(*) By Christian Isobel Johnstone, 1827
Edinburgh, Monday 24 January 1827
Visit from Mr. Audubon who brings some of his birds. The drawings are of the first order, the attitudes of the birds of the most animated character and the situations appropriate – one of a snake attacking a bird’s nest while the birds (the parents) peck at the reptile’s eyes – They usually in the long run destroy him says the naturalist – The feathers of these gay little sylphs, most of them from the Southern states, are most brilliant, and are represented with what were it [not] connected with so much spirit in the attitude I would call a laborious degree of execution. This extreme correctness is of the utmost consequence to the naturalist [but] as I think (having no knowlege of virtue) rather gives a stiffness to the drawings. This sojourner in the desert had been in the woods for months together. He preferd associating with the Indians to the company of the Back Settlers, very justly I daresay for a civilized man of the lower order, that is the dregs of civilization, when thrust back on the savage state becomes worse than a saffage. They are Wordsworth’s adventurer
Deliberate and undeceived
The wild men’s vices who received
And gave them back his own.**
The Indians he says are dying fast : they seem to pine and die whenever the white population approaches them. The Shawanese, who amounted Mr. Audubon says to some thousands within his memory are almost extinct and so are various other tribes. Mr. Audubon could never hear any tradition about the mammoth though he made anxious enquiries. He gives no countenance to the idea that the red Indians were ever a more civilized people than at this day or that a more civilized people had preceded them in North America. He looks on the bricks etc. occasionally found and appeald to in support of this opinion to the earlier settlers, or where kettles and other utensils may have been found to the early trade between the Indians and the Spaniard.
John Russell and Leonard Horner came to consult me about the propriety and possibility of retaining the Northern pronunciation of the latin in the new Edinburgh academy. I will think of it until tomorrow, being not great judge. We had our solitary dinner ; indeed it is only remarkable nowadays when when we have a guest.*
(*) Anne writes on this theme to Sophia on the 26th: ‘He is working very hard, ten minutes at dinner is all I see of him… I wish I was at Abbotsford where I might have somebody staying if it was only for the pleasure of talking for I am sure I will lose the use of my tongue… I shall be glad when Buonaparte is done what a horrid long dose of History we will have to read.’ Abbots.
(**) Ruth, II
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Walter Scott's study at 39 North Castle Street, Edinburgh
‘This posthumous portrait by Sir John Watson Gordon dates from the 1840s or 1850s. It depicts, somewhat fancifully, Scott’s study at 39 North Castle Street, Edinburgh, where he lived between 1801 and 1826 (see Homes).
Scott is shown reading a large book at his writing desk. On an adjoining table to the right sits Scott’s cat Hinse of Hinsefeldt. A dog, probably Camp, lies on the floor in the foreground. Light is provided by a window to the left. On the wall behind Scott hangs a map with a suit of armour standing to its left.
To the right, above the chimney-piece, hangs a portrait of Scott’s mother, also by Watson Gordon. In reality, Scott’s study was lined with bookshelves and dominated by a portrait of John Graham of Claverhouse, portrayed by Scott in Old Mortality.
The painting is now held by the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. It was engraved once, in 1871, by Robert Charles Bell’
Source: http://www.walterscott.lib.ed.ac.uk/portraits/paintings/gordoncastlest.html
Birds of America - John James Audubon - Source: www.bbc.co.uk
( Click on the image above to watch the video. Note: it starts right after the short publicity clip )
6 December 2010
A rare copy of what is billed as the world’s most expensive book is being sold at auction in London on Tuesday.
John James Audubon’s Birds of America was the natural history publishing sensation of the 19th century.
The book is valued at between £4m and £6m and is being sold as part of a collection from the estate of the 2nd Baron Hesketh.
Leslie Overstreet, a curator of natural history rare books at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC, explained why this giant book is so important.
Birds of America by John James Audubon - Edition Folio
Thanks Mairiuna for sharing the picture of your own Folio Edition of “The Birds of the America“. It looks just great!
Clicking on the image will navigate to Amazon’s marketplace, for anyone wanting to purchase this superb and magnificient book. Below, for your convenience, are Amazon customers reviews.
5.0 out of 5 starsMr. Burke (Miami, Florida)This review is from: Audubon’s Birds of America: The Audubon Society Baby Elephant Folio (Hardcover)We keep this beautiful book open on a fine antique table in the foyer of our home. Every few days someone will change the page to a new, breath-taking piece of art. This is an American masterpiece and by far the most beautiful and affordable collection accessible to most people. It comes with a very stout slip case and dustjacket. The book is well constructed and I expect it to last a lifetime.
5.0 out of 5 stars The most priceless bird book to treasureByAmanda A. (NE, TN)This review is from: Audubon’s Birds Of America: The Audubon Society Baby Elephant Folio (Hardcover)I adore this book, with it’s priceless drawings of birds by members of the Audubon Society. Being a birder, the illustrations are fantastic in helping one delineate between different bird species. It is such a big and beautiful tome, you can also have it on your coffee table for friends and family to admire.
3.0 out of 5 stars Preposterous. HonestlyBy Caraculiambro (La Mancha and environs)This review is from: Audubon’s Birds of America: The Audubon Society Baby Elephant Folio (Hardcover)I bought this book as a gift for my parents, who are elderly and who enjoy watching birds and looking at pictures of birds.
But when I later went to visit them I got an unpleasant surprise: this book is HUGE. Ridiculously huge.
It’s the biggest book I’ve ever seen. It’s about the size of a computer tower laid on its side. Bigger than any unabridged dictionary.
As a result my parents never use it: it’s simply too heavy for them to lift. I’m not joking around here. They’re afraid of getting a hernia or hurting their back if they lift it.
So it just sits on the shelf gathering dust.
Actually, not on the shelf, since this book won’t fit on any normal bookshelf. So they just stand it on the floor.
If you buy this, make sure the person you’re getting it for is in excellent shape.
You’ve been warned.
Enjoy and all the very best,
Janice
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