Monday, June 13, 2011

Audubon Ruffed Grouse


Soooo, this is a framed print that I bought at the auction for the grand total (I think) of five bucks.  It just looked old to me and of course I have a thing for old prints.  When I got it in my hands I noticed the word Audubon in the lower left hand corner.  It stayed on the floor in the bedroom for a week or two and then I hung it up.  Then I tried to read what was in the lower right hand corner....hmmm, Havell 1833...hmmm.  I began to do a little research, and of course it is a reproduction.  Namely the main cue that it is a reproduction is the size...I have actually seen a Audubon double elephant folio and it used to reside about 5 miles from where I now live.  In the home of J.Z. George--"Cotesworth."  Of course I was in high school then and was impressed despite the fact that I didn't know what I was looking at. I wonder if they still have it displayed or if it is in a vault some where.

This is Cotesworth.
When I was doing my  research, I noted that the original double elephant print of my Ruffed Grouse was listed for $27,000 on one website ....so according to Wiki, "Of the 119 copies known to survive, only eleven are held in private collections. In March 2000 the Fox-Bute copy sold at Christie's (New York) for $8,802,500. In December 2005 an unbound copy, the Providence Athenaeum Set, sold, again at Christie's (New York), for $5.6 million
Although I didn't find a treasure money wise, I did find a treasure in that I learned a lot about the amazing Mr. Audubon...and that was worth five bucks, plus it looks great in my guest bedroom...

3 comments:

Lady Di Tn said...

Nice way to begin a learning experience. Like the 2.50 items you picked up. I love to go to thrift stores and try to find neat stuff. You did good girl. The VS store are for pencil girls and I wore some of their stuff (very little-too expensive) when I was a pencil but now at 61 even if I was a pencil I would not wear their stuff. Wit age come the wisdom of COMFORT. Peace

PAINTORDIG.blogspot.com said...

Love your print. You just never know what you might find and that is the thrill of the hunt!

Vintage Christine said...

Hey! I haven't been here in a loooong time! How ya doin??? Love the print, and maybe you'll come across one of those $8,000,000 pieces at that dadgum auction you go to. I'll be hitting the World's Longest Yard Sale next week, though, so hopefully I'll finally find some treasures, too!