+Audubon
Home | Table of Contents

The Birds of America,1858-60 - Bien Edition

Full Sheet, One Drawing, 25 x 37 Inches | Full Sheet, Two Drawings, 25 x37 Inches | Half Sheet, One Drawing, 18 x 25 Inches

The Bien edition, issued by Audubon’s artist son, John W. Audubon, was the first attempt to reproduce the birds life-size.   It was undertaken by Julius Bien in New York as a chromolithographic work and involved the transfer of the images from the original plates to stones.  The outbreak of the Civil War prevented completion, and only 150 images on 105 plates were produced by Bien during the years 1858, 59, and 60. 

The sheets with one image measure about 26 x 38 inches, the same size as the Havells.  However, instead of placing one small bird on a large sheet, two small images were printed on each sheet in the Bien edition.  This work was a major achievement in chromolithography at this time and the Biens are actually scarcer than the Havells, and of course all the work was done in America.  The exact number of the Bien editions is unknown, but it is thought to be between 50 and 100.

Listed below are those prints which consume a full sheet; later in the listing the double sheets with two images; and next, those small image sheets which have been halved.  The half-sheets are about 18 x 25 inches.  Further, the Biens have no watermark although in most cases Bien’s name appears on the print.

 Back to Top

  Full Sheet, One Drawing, 25 x 37 Inches 

Plate 20 - GREAT-FOOTED HAWK - Very nice color, 3 inch repaired tear upper center margin, margins rough, mats up nicely.  $2,500

Plate 138 - MOCKINGBIRD - Important image with rattlesnake, nest, and Yellow Jessamine vine, some restoration, 24 x 36 inches good impact, dated 1860.  $6,500

Plate 141 – FERRUGINOUS THRUSH (BROWN THRASHER)  - Common yard bird, state bird of Georgia, with black snake in Black Jack oak defending nest.  Full sheet, dated 1860.  SOLD

Plate 216 - REDWING STARLING - Excellent  color and impression of this bird in budding Red maple, 26 1/2 x 38 1/2 inches.  One of the best of the Biens, dated 1860.  $6,500

Plate 217 - BALTIMORE ORIOLE - Excellent color and condition, measures 26 1/2 x 37 inches, dated 1860, with rag mat.   $7,500

Plate 221 - PURPLE GRACKLE - Birds in cornstalk, a famous Audubon image.  French mat.  $4,500

Plate 222 – RUSTY GRACKLE  – Excellent color and condition.  Four birds in Black Haw tree branch eating blueberries.  Full sheet.  $1,500 

Plate 226 – FISH CROW - Nice image of coastal crow in locust tree with crab.  Paper in good condition, full sheet, good color.  Dated 1860.  $2,750

Plate 244 - YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT - Striking composition with birds coming to nest in Virginia Rose bush, good condition, full sheet, 1860.  $5,500

Plate 253 - RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD - A stunning chromolithograph, colors and registration make this perfection.  Full sheet, dated 1860.  SOLD

Plate 278 - CAROLINA PARROT - Major and high-demand image, excellent color.   Measures 25 1/2 x 37 1/2 inches, dated 1860.  $35,000

Plate 287 -  WILD TURKEY (Male)  - Excellent impression of this important bird in giant cane field, dated 1858.   Audubon's signature image, full sheet, excellent color, some restoration, backed with Japan paper.  $9,500

Plate 288 - FISH HAWK or OSPREY - Excellent impression of this important and common bird.  Extra full sheet measures 26 1/2 x 39 inches, backed with Japan paper for conservation purposes.  Dated 1860.  $9,500

Plate 289 - VIRGINIA PARTRIDGE (COMMON QUAIL) - Dramatic image, some restoration - mainly along margins, light crease across top of image area - barely visible.  Good color, dated 1860, measures 26 x 38 inches.  $12,000

Plate 358 - GLOSSY IBIS - Beautiful impression of this stunning bird, excellent color, striking setting with cabin and stream, measures 26 x 38 inches, dated 1860.  $8,500

Plate 364 - YELLOW-CROWN NIGHT HERON - High demand image, best color I have ever seen on this print, excellent condition, full sheet, dated 1860.  $12,000   SOLD

Plate 367 - GREEN HERON - Excellent color, dated 1860, 26 x 38 inches.  $6,500

Plate 371 - REDDISH EGRET - Major image of this important bird, good condition and color.  Framed to museum standards. $12,500

Plate 372 - BLUE CRANE OR LITTLE BLUE HERON - Nice impression and color, some margin restoration, view near Charleston, SC. Measures 24 1/2 x 34 inches.  $6,500

Plate 375 - AMERICAN FLAMINGO - One of Audubon's signature images, extra full sheet measures 26 1/4 x 39 1/2 inches. Left sheet side shows sewing holes where disbound from book.  A very important image, dated 1860.  $37,500

Plate 380 - WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE - Wide spread goose, typical Audubon pose, dated 1860.  $5,500

Plate 388 - GADWALL DUCK - Full sheet, great color and condition, beautifully set off with linen mat, formerly in the Russell B. Aitken Collection of Wildlife Art and Sculpture.  Some foxing.   $3,750

Plate 391 - WOOD DUCK - Important image, good color, 26 1/2 x 39 inches some restoration, dated 1860.  $9,500 

Plate 395 - CANVAS-BACKED DUCK - Great color, important image with Baltimore skyline in background.  Dated 1860. SOLD

Plate 405 - EIDER DUCK - Very nice impression and color, full sheet, 26 1/4 x 39 1/2 inches, dated 1860. Striking image of this western duck.  $12,500

Plate 414 - SMEW OR WHITE NUN - Great color.  Repaired margin tear.  Dated 1860.   $3,950

Plate 423 - BROWN PELICAN - Measures 25 x 39 inches, slightly trimmed left margin, paper restoration across top of print barely discernable.  $8,500

 Back to Top

 Full Sheet, Two Drawings, 25 x 37 inches

Plates 82, 239 - PINE CREEPING WARBLER and SOLITARY FLYCATCHER and VIREO - Unobtrusive crease, nice otherwise.  $750

Plates 121, 116 - WINTER AND ROCK WREN, dated 1860.  $400

Plates 150, 151 – PRAIRIE AND BROWN TITLARKS – Vertical double, with French mat, good condition and color.  Dated  1860.  $1,200

Plates 173, 174 - MACGILLIVRAY'S FINCH AND SHARP-TAILED FINCH - Two images with interesting foliage and background.  $1,800

Plates 240, 243 - WHITE-EYED and RED-EYED VIREOS - Very nice double plate, now scarce.  $950  SOLD

Plates 397, 398 - LONG-NECKED AND SCAUP DUCK - Vertical double, 26 1/2 x 39 inches, good color, 1860, several margin repairs.  $1,800

 

 Back to Top

 Half Sheet, One Drawing, 18 x 25 inches

Plate 44 - AMERICAN SWIFT - Matted .  $300

Plate 48 - REPUBLICAN OR CLIFF SWALLOW - Birds in clay nests.  $350

Plate 89 - RATHBONE'S WARBLER (YELLOW WARBLER) - Very decorative image with yellow/red blooms of cross-vine. $750

Plate 120  - HOUSE WREN - Bird nest in hat, a famous Audubon image.   $650

Plate 121 -

Plate 120 - HOUSE WREN (second copy) - Classic Audubon, crease across top of print.  $450

Plate 124 - NUTTALL'S LESSER MARSH WREN - Worm damage.  $450

Plate 132 - AMERICAN GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN - Trimmed.  $350

Plate 157 - BAY-WING BUNTING - Excellent color.   $650

Plate 177 - LINCOLN FINCH - Very decorative, nice color.  $850

Plate 192 – WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW – French mat and period frame.  $950

Plate 245 – BOHEMIAN CHATTERER – Mat burn.  $450

Plate 308 – YELLOW-BREASTED RAIL – Charming image, margin losses, French mat.  $750

Plate 332 - PECTORAL SANDPIPER - Image tear.  $350

Plate 343 - SOLITARY SANDPIPER - Bottom half sheet with credit line showing Audubon and Bien.  $1,250

Plate 434 - ARCTIC TERN - Great color, mat burn.  Dated 1860.  $1,600

Plate 454 - PUFFIN - ATLANTIC PUFFIN - 18 x 25 inches, lower margin center 6 inch repair into image, some lower margin losses, mats nicely.  $1,200

 Back to Top