Freemont's Squirrel & Sooty Squirrel - Plate CXLIX, Original Audubon, Quadrupeds of North America - popular First Octavo Edition

Original hand-colored stone lithograph from the first octavo edition of The Quadrupeds of North America, by John James Audubon, F.R.S., and The Rev. John Bachman, D.D. The Quadrupeds of North America was John James Audubon's last major work before his passing. Several of the original paintings were actually completed by his son, John Woodhouse Audubon. Like his earlier and more famous work, The Birds of America, it was first published in a folio edition, then later in the octavo edition, making it more available to the general public.

This print is Plate CXLIX from Vol. III of the first octavo edition published by V.G. Audubon in New York, 1854. It was drawn from nature by J.W. Audubon, and then transferred to stone by W.E. Hitchcock. The plate was then transferred from stone (i.e., lithographed) and hand-colored by J.T. Bowen of Philadelphia. The result is a finely detailed and lifelike print, with bold original color.

The print is double-matted with a black mat on the bottom and an off-white mat on the top. All of the matting materials are acid-free and the assembly is backed with foam board.

All of our antique prints and maps are guaranteed to be original and we will fully refund any purchase found to be otherwise. With specific regard to Audubon's octavo quadrupeds, we only identify prints as first editions if we have first-hand knowledge of such or acquired the print from a well-trusted source. First editions were published between 1849 (Vol. I) and 1854 (Vol. III, with Vol. II in 1851), with later editions published up to 1870 (when the original stones were destroyed in a fire). We offer both first and later editions of Audubon's octavo quadrupeds in our shop, however, the majority are first editions (the later edition prints are identified as 2nd edition or later). If you have any questions regarding any of the prints, please feel free to ask!

Dimensions:
Approx. 7" x 10-1/4" (print sheet size), approx. 6" x 9" (matted opening), approx. 12" x 15" (overall size)

Condition:
The print itself is in very good condition, with vibrant original coloring. We acquired the print matted. As shown in the photos, there is some damage to the edge of the top mat board. The damage should remain hidden behind the lip of the frame or may need to be trimmed or possibly re-matted (unlikely). Rather than discard the matting, we are including it for no additional cost with the price reflecting that of just the print itself.

All of our antique prints and maps are stored in protective plastic sleeves and ship flat in rigid mailers or large document boxes to ensure protection during transport. Given that the print is matted and backed on foam board, it will be shipped within a large document box.


Other antique prints related to natural history, as well as anatomy, astronomy, and other fields of art and science, can be found in our shop at:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/BittenbenderAndMoll?section_id=18029474&ref=shopsection_leftnav_9

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