AUDUBON, JOHN JAMES. Autograph Manuscript, unsigned, "Plate 67. Red-Winged Starling", working draft for the Ornithological Biography, 3 pages on wove paper watermarked "Fellows 1826", folio, written on a single folded sheet; central fold reinforced with three small linen tabs. Framed and matted with the Red-Winged Starling hand-colored lithograph and text from the first octavo edition of Birds of America. [with] AUDUBON, JOHN JAMES. Red-Winged Starling or Marsh Black Bird. Plate LXVII. Hand-colored engraved and aquatint plate from Audubon's double elephant folio edition of Birds of America, on wove paper watermarked "JWhatman 1836." 965x647 mm, wide margins; lightest mat stain in the margins. Framed and matted. Np, [1826] * London [1836]
an impressive pairing. Audubon's descriptions for the Ornithological Biography were substantially amended by MacGillivray and perhaps another editor before they appeared in print, and so the autograph manuscript working drafts provide a wonderful unfiltered glimpse of Audubon's sentiment and vernacular prose. Here, as an example, the closing of the description: ". . . [A]s an Article of food they are little better than the Starling of Europe or Crow black bird of our United States although many are eat & thought good by the Country people whom make Pot pies of them.
I have given you the figures of a Male & female adult as well as one of a Male of the next following Spring of its birth and have placed them on the branch of a Maple because these birds are particularly fond of alighting upon Trees of this Kind in early Spring to pick up the Insects that frequent its blossoms.
The Water Maple is found dispersed throughout the United States & grows as its name indicates in the Immediate vicinity of Water - it is of a tender substance & scarcely ever used for any other purpose than than [sic] that of making common household utensils."
Provenance of the manuscript: by repute, Audubon family, until 1920s; Grace Phillips Johnson (her sale, Christie's New York, 26 May 1977); H. Bradley Martin (his sale, "Part I: Audubon", Sotheby's New York, 6 June 1989); where purchased by present owner.
