John James Audubon
Black Tern Plate CCLXXX
Engraving with Aquatint
19 x 12
in
Havell
This unique piece was part of a small number of prints that Audubon brought to America after his final return in 1839. In 1842, Audubon personally sold the prints to the third Earl of Caledon, an officer in the Coldstream Guards in Quebec.
The most prized prints of Audubon's original sketches are the aquatints known as the Havell Editions. These were produced between 1826 and 1838 under the direct supervision of Audubon himself. These aquatints are based on Audubon's original watercolors and ink drawings. The prints in this edition are printed on double elephant sized paper, which measures 27.5 by 39.5 inches. The paper used in the printing process was handmade by James Whatman in Kent County England, and contains the original watermark that reads "JWhatman" or "JWhatman/Turkey Mill," followed by the date.
You can find more information on the various Audubon editions here.
