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.
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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. $3,000
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. $5,500
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.
$8,500
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. $3,500
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 – Nice colors, measures 25 ½ x 34 ¼ inches, great impact. $6,500
Plate 273 – GOLDEN-WINGED
WOODPECKER – Full sheet, some margin damage, mat burn, one 2-inch tear, dated 1860. $3,000
SOLD
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. $22,500
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. $18,000
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 363 - BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON -
Great full sheet with landscape, also shows Atamasco Lily, 1860.
SOLD
Plate 371 -
REDDISH EGRET - Major image of this important bird, good condition and
color. $16,000
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. $7,500
Plate 375 -
AMERICAN FLAMINGO - One of Audubon's signature images, extra full sheet
measures 26 1/4 x 39 1/2 inches. Some very minor margin repairs, left sheet
side shows sewing holes where disbound from book. A very important
image. $45,000
Plate 380 -
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE - Wide spread goose, typical Audubon pose, dated 1860.
$5,500
Plate 385 – MALLARD DUCK –
Major plate in Audubon collections, nice colors, full sheet. Dated 1859, in handsome frame.
$16,000
SOLD
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. $3,750
Plate 391 - WOOD DUCK - Important
image, good color, trimmed, restoration, excellent registration, dated 1860.
$6,500 SOLD
Plate 395 - CANVAS-BACKED DUCK - Great
color, important image with Baltimore skyline in background. Dated 1860. $9,500
Plate 405 -
EIDER DUCK - Dramatic composition of two male ducks fighting, with female in
nest. Full sheet, very good color. $5,200
SOLD
Plate 414 - SMEW OR WHITE NUN - Great
color. Repaired margin tear. Dated 1860. $3,950
Plate 423 -
BROWN PELICAN - Major image, great color, dated 1860. $18,000
Plate 423 -
BROWN PELICAN - Second copy, repaired tear across top of print well above
image area. $12,000
Plate 465 -
GREAT AUK - Extensive margin tears and paper losses, mats up nicely, dated
1860. SOLD
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 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 192, 191 – WHITE-CROWNED
AND WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS – Excellent pairing, repaired margin tears, one into
image of left bird. Small right corner
crease. Colors excellent. Double mat. Dated
1860. SOLD
Plates 240, 243 - WHITE-EYED and
RED-EYED VIREOS - Very nice double plate, now scarce. $950
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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 88 (89) - YELLOW-POLL WARBLER
(YELLOW WARBLER) - Very nice impression, with blue Atlantic wisteria.
$750
Plate 89 - RATHBONE'S WARBLER
(YELLOW WARBLER) - Very decorative image with yellow/red blooms of
cross-vine. $750 (Plates 88 and 89 are vertical and if placed
side by side would make a striking horizontal display. $1,400 for
both)
Plate 104 - SWAINSON'S WARBLER
- With Wild Orange Azalea and butterfly. SOLD
Plate 114 - BLACK AND WHITE CREEPER
- Very nice condition and registration. $450
SOLD
Plate 120 - HOUSE WREN - Bird nest in hat, a
famous Audubon image. $650
Plate 120 - HOUSE WREN (second copy)
- Classic Audubon, crease across top of print. $450
Plates 121, 116 - WINTER AND ROCK
WREN - Nice composition, four birds pictured from two species, a rare print
in a half sheet. $550
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