AUDUBON JOHN Autograph Manuscript unsigned entitled The Ohio

Sale 2296 - Lot 57

Price Realized: $ 15,600

?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price

Estimate: $ 8,000 - $ 12,000

AUDUBON, JOHN. Autograph Manuscript, unsigned, entitled "The Ohio," working draft of an episode from the autobiographical narrative in the Ornithological Biography, with numerous corrections. 3 pages, folio, written on a single folded sheet; minor loss at bottom corner of third page (not affecting text); 1/4 leather clamshell box. [Edinburgh?, circa 1830]

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"The Ohio" is one of several episodes published in 1831 as Ornithological Biography, intended to accompany his Birds in America. In this episode, appearing on pages 29 to 32 of volume one, Audubon vividly recalls his voyage down the Ohio River from Pennsylvania to Kentucky: "It was in the month of October, the autumnal tints already decorated both the shores of that queen of rivers, the Ohio. Every tree was hanging with long and flowing festoons of different species of vines, many loaded with fruity and varied brilliancy, . . . the mellowing yellow leaves . . . now had become prominent over those still green reflecting far livelier groups of tints on the transparent stream than ever was portrayed or imagined by any landscape painter. . . .
". . . [O]ne evening not far from Pigeon Creek . . . some loud & strange noises were heard, so resembling the yells of Indian warriors, that we pulled our oars and made for the opposite side as fast and as quietly as possible--the sounds increased, we imagined we heard the cries of 'Murder' and . . . we were rendered extremely uncomfortable for a while--however ere long our minds became more calmed & we plainly discovered that the singular uproar was nothing more than the produce of the meeting of an enthusiastic set of Methodists who . . . [were] holding one of their annual camp meetings . . . .
". . . I hope to read ere I close my earthly career, accounts from these delightful writers of the progress of civilization in our western Country--they will write of the Clarks, the Croghans, the Boons and many other Men of great and daring enterprise--they will analise . . . each component part of the country as it once existed and thereby immortalise it as it deserves to be for ever!"
Grace Phillips Johnson (Christie's, New York 26 May 1977); H. Bradley Martin (Sotheby's, New York, 6 June 1981); James S. Copley (Sotheby's, New York, 17 June 2010).