Original Audubon Swainson's Warbler Bien Edition

Item Details

*An original chromotlithographic Audubon print from the Bien Edition (1858-1860) featuring Swainson’s Warbler. In terms of numbers, the Bien Edition is the rarest of all original Audubon Publications.
Plate 104 and Plate 108 were printed on a single sheet that was cut in half for framing, this is 104, plate 108 is featured in item # 012
This is plate 104 no. 4-8 and features the larger view of the Warbler, in an orange Azalea, with two different species of butterfly floating around. The Bien edition was printed with stone lithographic process, as many as six different stones per print, which differs slightly from the better known Havell edition, printed with copper plates. The images that comprise the Bien edition were made by transferring the images from the copper plates of the Havell edition more or less directly onto the lithographic stones. The editions are named for the publishers by which they were printed, as Audubon himself was not a master printer. The Bien edition saw the bankruptcy of the Audubon ornithological empire, but the prints produced therein are beautiful and part of the rich history of wildlife fine prints. This print is beautifully presented in an antique original frame of beautiful wood with dark stain and an antique tassel hanger to top.

Condition

Good-Fair, the print is toned throughout in a manner consistent with age and the frame is similarly worn. Still an amazing print that any collector ought to jump at.

Dimensions

Item #

13CIN076-599