Audubon Havell Aquatint, Louisiana Heron, Plate 217 - The cover image

AUDUBON, John James (1785 - 1851). Louisiana Heron, Plate 217. Aquatint engraving with original hand color. London: Robert Havell, 1827-1838. 25 1/2” x 37 7/8” sheet. Comparables: Arader Galleries, 2019 - $212,500; Arader Galleries, 2025 - $204,000. The cover image of Roger Tory Peterson's book, Audubon’s Birds of America: The Audubon Society Baby Elephant Folio. One of Audubon’s Great Icons, with the configuration of the neck being a work of genius. "The flight of this beautiful Heron is light, rather irregular, swifter than that of any other species, and capable of being considerably protracted. They usually move in long files, rather widely separated, and in an undulating manner, with constant flappings. When proceeding towards their roosts, or when on their migrations, they pass as high over the country as other species; on the former occasion, they pass and repass over the same tract, thus enabling the gunner easily to shoot them, which he may especially calculate on doing at the approach of night, when they are gorged with food, and fly lower than in the morning. They may, however, be still more surely obtained on their arriving at their roosting place, where they alight at once among the lowest branches. On being shot at, they seldom fly to a great distance, and their attachment to a particular place is such that you are sure to find them there during the whole period of their stay in the country, excepting the breeding time. At the cry of a wounded one, they assail you in the manner of some Gulls and Terns, and may be shot in great numbers by any person fond of such sport. " - (Audubon's Ornithological Biography, 1831).

Estimation:€134,130.15

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