Most original octavo editions of Audubon’s famous Birds of North America were broken up as individual pictures were extracted and sold separately. The Waverly Auction house of Virginia is selling a rare first edition of the 500 illustrations completely intact on March 1, at Falls Church. The octavo, notably smaller and more portable than first double elephant folio, has a high estimate of $60,000.After his first huge illustrations were sold by subscription, John James Audubon decided to come out with the smaller version, on pages roughly 6 ½ by 10 ¼ inches. The new octavos were such a hit, seven editions followed, each with some color and background variations. The Waverly offering comes from a Washington, D.C., family that owned it for many years.
Rare Complete Audubon Octavo Offered
February 28, 2012
Craven Heifer Portrait Sells For Fat Price
January 30, 2013She was, in fact, just a fat cow, but this “Craven Heifer” was England’s heftiest heifer ever. She weighed 4,368 pounds, was 11-feet long, stood 7-feet tall and became famous as she toured England for the yokels who paid to see her. An unknown artist did her portrait that sold at Bonhams London last night for $25,568.
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Rare Pissarro Leads Bonhams Impressionist Sale
January 29, 2013Impressionist Camille Pissarro painted just two depictions of the Normandy coastline, and the whereabouts of only one is known. That would be “Falaises aux Petites-Salles,” which will be the highlight at Bonhams Impressionist and Modern Art auction on February 5th in London. The rare canvas, dominated by the sea and a sky filled with storm clouds, is expected to bring $236,000-$315,000.
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Maritime Art At Bonhams
January 22, 2013In the mid-19th century, when sailing vessels ruled the seas, stormy voyages were a favorite theme of maritime artists. One of the most accomplished was James Edward Buttersworth, whose masterpiece may be his depiction, circa 1855, of the famous Clipper ship Flying Cloud emerging from a hurricane. When the painting comes up for auction later this week at Bonhams’ Maritime Paintings & Decorative Arts sale in New York, it’s expected to realize $200,000-$300,000.
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Rising Value of Unrestored Cars
By Malcolm Welford, Vintage Car Specialist
