Audubon’s 50 Best | Prints of Original Preparatory Watercolors for Birds of America | New York Historical Society Edition #23 of 200

John James

A U D U B O N

NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY EDITION

of

Audubon’s Fifty Best Watercolors from

Birds of America

Audubon’s 50 Best | Prints of Original Preparatory Watercolors for Birds of America | New York Historical Society Edition #23 of 200

FROM THE

THE VAN BAERLE FAMILY ESTATE COLLLECTION PRESENTED BY

SKS ART COMPANY

NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY EDITION (#23/200)

OF

Audubon’s Fifty Best Watercolors from

The Original Watercolors Preparatory for

Birds of America

!

!

PROVENANCE: In 2006 the New York Historical Society commissioned the Van Baerle family’s fine art printing company (Archival Imaging, Inc.) to photograph and print the very first and only reproduction of Audubon’s original watercolors from his Birds of America publication. At the time of printing, the Van Baerle family purchased edition #23 out of the total 200 limited editions they printed exclusively for the NYHS. In mint condition, this edition has remained with the Van Baerle family since the original purchase.

Audubon’s 50 Best | Prints of Original Preparatory Watercolors for Birds of America | New York Historical Society Edition #23 of 200

THE HISTORY In 1863,Lucy Audubon sold the core collection of Audubon material still in the family's possession to the New-York Historical Society, New York's first museum. The collection was formidable. In addition to artifacts and family memorabilia, it included the most important comprehensive collection of one of the greatest nineteenth-century American artists-471 of John James Audubon's original watercolors, of which 435 were preparatory for The Birds of America.

The New-York Historical Society and Oppenheimer Editions have an exclusive agreement to publish 200 numbered actual-size sets, a first and special edition to be known as The New-York Historical Society Edition of Audubon's Fifty Best Watercolors. The prints in the New-York Historical Society Edition are re-creations of the watercolors that Audubon made prior to the publication of the double elephant folio Havell engravings of The Birds of America.

Printed with Archival pigments on 100% rag watercolor paper, these prints directly capture the artist's hand and fundamental vision, unlike any publication before. Each image is individually sized to match the exact dimensions of the original painting. This is an actual-size first edition printing of Audubon's watercolors and will assume an important position among the collectible editions of Audubon's work. In addition to this being an actual-size first edition printing, there are four images among the 50 that are presented in this edition that have never before been published as works of art. Audubon's fifty Best Watercolors offers collectors a unique opportunity to own a virtual replica in printed form of one of these historic originals. The New-York Historical Society Edition of Audubon's watercolors is limited to 200 sets, which coincides with the same number of folios that Audubon produced for the Havell Edition of hand-colored engravings.

- Museum-authorized prints will not be reissued for at least 75 Years - Edition Limited to 200 prints - Individually stamped with certificate of authenticity

Audubon’s 50 Best | Prints of Original Preparatory Watercolors for Birds of America | New York Historical Society Edition #23 of 200

Price List

Audubon’s 50 Best | Prints of Original Preparatory Watercolors for Birds of America | New York Historical Society Edition #23 of 200

Linen-Covered Folio Cover Title sheet

Audubon’s 50 Best | Prints of Original Preparatory Watercolors for Birds of America | New York Historical Society Edition #23 of 200

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