John James Audubon’s The Birds of America (1827-1838) is probably the most famous of all bird books and is on exhibit at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. . In the summer of 2018, an edition like the Field Museum’s sold at auction by Christie’s for $9.65 million.
Wouldn't you love to find one in your grandparents attic?
Only 120 complete sets of Audubon’s 435 exquisite, hand-colored engravings are known to exist. They were printed on what was, in 1838, the largest paper available — roughly 3 feet by 2 feet per sheet,
Photography was in its infancy in 1838 and Audubon’s work provided naturalists with the opportunity to view lifelike images of birds across North America
"The worse my drawings were, the more beautiful did the originals appear." John James Audubon
The exhibit states that "it is important to recognize the more troubling aspects of his legacy:. he bought and sold enslaved people, plagiarized and exploited natural resources.”
The view through today's lens, has caused many ornithological societies to change their names. The Chicago Audubon Society changed its name to the Chicago Bird Alliance. They hope to create a more inclusive and welcoming organization within the birding community
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