AUDUBON ALECTO RESTRIKES
In 1985, the American Museum of Natural History in New York City worked with Alecto Historical Editions in London, England, to produce 125 restrikes of six major images from John J. Audubon's great BIRDS OF AMERICA.
The original copper plates of these six birds once used by Audubon are in the possession of the New York Museum. The restrikes were made to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Audubon's birth in 1785. These copper plates of the six images were transferred to London, where 125 editions of six prints each were produced. Each engraving is printed in color from the original 19th century plates on a copperplate rolling press and was then hand-finished in watercolor.
All of these prints from the original folio are selling in excess of $75,000 - some as high as $200,000. A restrike is next in value to the original print, and these prints are beautiful and unique. The coloring is stunning, and the restrikes are on the highest quality paper.
During the twentieth century, many photomechanical copies have been reproduced from Audubon's prints, and sporadic attempts have also been made to reissue odd editions from the original plates in black and white, and a few small ones in color. These offered plates, however, represent the first time since Audubon's own day that a new printing from his original plates was carried out to the exacting standards that he himself demanded of Robert Havell.
Each print is identified with an ink stamp on the verso with the marks of the Master Printer and the Publishers' copyright symbol and date of publication. The plate number and the edition number are recorded in pencil.
The prints were sold in 125 editions of six prints each for $35,000. This set is offered for $30,000 until a single print is sold, at which time the remaining prints will be sold individually. The six prints which were struck from the original plates are:
Plate 1 - Turkey (Male) SOLD
Plate 6 - Turkey (Female and Young) SOLD
Plate 121 - Snowy Owl SOLD
Plate 201 - Canada Goose 3,500
Plate 221 - Mallard Duck SOLD
Plate 281 - Great White Heron 3,500
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