Author: Hart-Davis, Duff
Title: Audubon's elephant
Description: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2003.Hard covers, dust jacket.ISBN: 029782967X.As new/As new.Describes the trials and tribulations of an ornithologist in early 19th century America, who made several trips to Europe in pursuit of his dream: a double elephant folio book (hence the title) illustrating the birds of North America at life size.Today only around 120 copies have survived intact, and they fetch telephone number prices on the rare occasions when one comes up for sale.A little-known aspect of the work is its attention to habitat detail; plant associates of the birds are well illustrated, and often captioned.Audubon was fortunate, after a false start in Edinburgh, to engage the services of a superbly skilled illustrator and printer, Robert Havell jnr.and a talented editor/copywriter, William McGillivray.Hart-Davis's book, as befits one on this subject, is illustrated with a number of well-chosen colour plates and includes a more than averagely affectionate portrait of C19 Liverpool.288 pp.End papers decorated with Audubon's plate of the long-billed curlew. In English.1 kg.

Keywords: 029782967X


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