Least Water-Rail- By John James Audubon

• Artist: John James Audubon
• Medium: Lithograph
• Publish Details: Philadelphia: J.T. Bowen, 1856 from The Birds of America. Octavo edition. Original hand coloring. 
• Measurements: 6 3/4 x 10 3/8 in. (sheet), 12 x 15 in. (mat)
• Conditions: Pretty good condition. Water stain in right margin and slight tears in corners. 

John James Audubon, renowned for his superb prints and adventurous life, is perhaps the most famous, and arguably the greatest, of all American natural history artists. His pioneering travels throughout the United States in search of birds in the wild, combined with his lifelike and dramatic artistic style, established his enduring reputation.

Beginning in 1827, Audubon issued the prints for his monumental The Birds of America, which ultimately comprised 435 double-elephant-folio plates. The extraordinary demand for these works led Audubon to produce smaller octavo editions, allowing a broader audience to enjoy his remarkable depictions of North American birds.

Although considerably smaller than the original folio prints, the octavo editions were produced with the same attention to quality and aesthetic appeal. Today, they offer a wonderful opportunity to own an important part of Audubon's celebrated work at a more accessible scale.