Snowy Owl
As part of “The Winter Sale 2015” on February 12, Copley Fine Art Auctions will offer a hand-colored engraving of a pair of snowy owls, modeled after an original watercolor by the naturalist John James Audubon. His 1827 book, Birds of America, a collection of 435 life-size watercolors of North American birds, is still considered to be the archetype of wildlife illustration. This engraving was made by Robert Havell, one of Audubon’s close friends and associates. The border of the image is labeled “Snowy Owl (No. 25, Plate CXXI)” and “Strix Nyctea.” On the lower left is written “Drawn from Nature by J. J. Audubon F.R.S.F.L.S.” and on the lower right is “Engraved, Printed, & Coloured by R. Havell, London.” The engraving is printed on J. Whatman watermarked paper.
History Unknown, well cared for
Auction House
Yes
Thank you for submitting your item for appraisal. This appears to be a hand colored engraving with aquatint and etching on J. Whatman paper.
The estimate is based on auction results for similars, depending on condition, e.g. margin is trimmed or not. Please be aware that there are lots of reproduction prints around, selling in the low hundreds. If this is the print sold at the Copley auction, february 12th, 2015, lot number 106, Provenance: Collection of an independent Audubon Society, the current estimate should be within the price range listed.
