the study authenticating
full-sized facsimiles of the Havell Edition The prints discussed here are all on paper that is at least 25 X 38 inches, although most are larger. Much more detailed descriptions appear in my book, Audubon Art Prints: A Collector's Guide to Every Edition (Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 2003). This book is available for sale through minniesland.com. Amsterdam (1972). 250 Copies. All, or nearly all, sold bound in four volumes. The paper was hand-made for the project and it strongly resembles the original Whatman. Authenticated by the watermark - G. Schut & Zonen R Audubon - placed in the middle of the long right margin. The "R" is a design that is made up of the initials J, R, O and T. Six-color photo-offset lithography. The colors are just a bit muted. The paper had no "size" or coating and the ink spreads out just a little. Abbeville (1985). 350 copies. Some sold bound in four volumes, some sold loose. Authenticated by the Audubon Society-Abbeville Press watermark. Thirteen color offset lithography made in Japan. The paper has some surface coating which kept the ink from spreading. Thus, Abbevilles are a bit sharper than Amsterdams, but the paper is just a little shiny. Ariel/Leipzig/Voyaguer (1972 with some made later - the 1972 is a correction from an earlier version of this page which listed an incorrect date). I call these Ariels. Authenticate these by examining the collotype printing with a 10x hand lens. You will see a random pattern of tiny blobs of ink rather than regular dots. Very pleasing effect. Heavy, stiff paper. Twenty horizontal images and twenty vertical ones. Five hundred sets sold in books, 500 more sets sold as loose prints. Most are Large (24 X 37 inches) and Medium(20 X 24 inches) images, a few are Small (12X20 inches). The Medium and Small images have definite, tangible plate marks that are NOT the same size as the Havell plate marks. The Large images do not. The books were held together with spring-loaded spines so some prints show a page-long, strong linear dent at the top. At least four other Large images (Turkey Cock, Canvasback, others) were printed later - perhaps even now. No information on how many later ones were made. Some prints have "Ariel Press" or some other wording in the bottom margin. Loates (1987...and later?) One thousand boxed sets and 100 loose prints each of 29 different birds. Steel plate engraving with over 100 different inks and paints. Of all the moderns, these have the best images. By far. Strong plate marks - not the same size as Havells. Name of bird only - no plate or part numbers - no credit to Havell or Audubon, which is irritating. Most signed in pencil by Loates. Princeton. Current. About 35 different images at 1,500 copies each. These have a Princeton Seal in the bottom margin which is how they are authenticated. Very good images, very good paper. A.P.P (1937). Artistic Pictures Publishing. At least two of their hand-colored images, Canvasback and Mallard, are almost full sized. Most have "APP" in the bottom margin. If it has been trimmed off, measure the smaller fake plate mark to eliminate the possibility of being a Havell. Audubon State Park/Key West Audubon House/National Gallery of Art. All of these sell reproductions through their gift shops. They include very nice photo-offset prints with full-sized images on slightly undersized paper. They squeeze the legend and captions into the bottom of the image to make things fit. All three print their names at the very bottom.
Last updated 02.28.09 |
||||||||
