Princeton Audubon is well know for their direct-camera facsimile prints of the originals from Audubon’s Birds of America. True fine art lithographs and not digital representations or copies of photographs, Princeton’s Double-Elephant-sized prints offer Audubon’s art in the exact size and format that he himself preferred. Princeton’s Double Elephant Folio (or DEF) prints are issued in limited editions of 500 or 1500 prints, several of which are now sold out. All of the Princeton Double Elephant Folio prints are numbered and have a seal in the bottom margin to demonstrate their authenticity. For those who love the art, but do not have the wall space or budget for these large prints, Princeton also offers a reduced-size line — the Essex Edition — which includes some popular waterbird prints. DEF prints with special pricing are listed below the regular DEF prints, and the Essex prints are listed below the specials.
Princeton Double Elephant Edition prints are facsimiles of Audubon’s original Havell Edition prints. They are printed on paper measuring 39-1/4 x 26-1/4 inches, a size typical of a Havell Edition print trimmed only of its binding edge. The paper is a very heavy 80 lb. cover stock and toned to match the average color of the original Havells. Printed on a 300 line, even a trained eye cannot discern the printed dot pattern without the aid of magnification. Thus a Princeton comes as close as possible to giving you the overall look of an orginal Havell print — not just the look of the image, but the look of the print as a whole.
Princeton Double Elephant Folio facsimiles were produced directly from the original Audubon/Havell antique engravings. Princetonpurchased originals and brought them into their printing plant. The originals were mounted before a giant bellows process camera, using film the same size as the original. Thus the exact images were captured on the film. The images were then transferred to mechanical printing plates. The direct-camera process eliminates two steps, reduction and enlargement, typical of other Audubon offset reproductions, steps that result in distortions. Princeton’s process thus provides the most accurate of reproductions. Edition size is 1500 unless otherwise noted.
To purchase Princeton Double Elephant Folio prints, call 703-823-7436.
