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Top Audubon Octavo
Quad Prints
by Ron Flynn
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Immediately
after the Audubons issued their first publication of animal
images, the Imperial Folio Edition of The Viviparous Quadrupeds
of North America (1845-48), they began work on a smaller more
affordable edition, The Quadrupeds of North America. which
is commonly referred to as the “octavo quads.” The octavo
quads were issued in four editions, each containing 155 different
animal images. The four editions were published as follows –
1st
edition – 1849-1854
2nd
edition – 1851-1855
3rd
edition – 1856
4th
edition – 1870-1871
As
you look at the dates of the editions above, you will note that
the 1st and 2nd editions overlapped each
other. All the editions were commonly bound into three book
volumes. The copyright date in each book volume, of each edition,
is not a true indicator of which edition the book is from. An 1849
date on the title page of a Volume I book might be a true
indicator that a particular volume is truly 1st edition. Beginning in 1851, both
1st and 2nd edition prints were being sold and issued simultaneously for
Volume I and II, and later for Volume III. This did not cause any
problems back in the 19th century, because subscribers
received whatever was sent out to them, and they eventually had
them bound into 3 book volumes. Today we are finding that the vast
majority of octavo quad book volume sets are actually mixed 1st and 2nd editions. This causes the first of two major
problems for collectors of Audubon octavo quad prints.
Most
people who collect rare or old books prefer, or would like, to own
a 1st edition. This is the case with Audubon
collectors. The 1st edition prints are the ones most
widely collected and sought after. Dealers charge a hefty premium
for individual 1st edition octavo quad prints, over 2nd and later edition prints. Yet, how can the collector be certain
that he is actually getting a true 1st edition print,
when most 3 volume book sets are mixed 1st and 2nd editions? The only answer for now is that you must implicitly
trust your dealer.
The
2nd major problem for collectors of Audubon octavo quad
prints is that ALL individual prints of a particular animal are
virtually identical, and edition cannot be determined once a print
is removed from its original book volume. Unlike the Audubon 1st edition octavo bird prints with NO printed colored background, ALL
octavo quad prints have a printed colored background unique to
each specific print in ALL editions. There are some minor
variations in the images of some prints, but this is undoubtedly a
purposeful change, or change as a result of replacing a cracked or
worn stone. However, these minor image variations cannot be
identified as to a particular edition. There are numerous
variations in the printed credits on octavo quad prints, but they
are not specific to any edition either, EXCEPT ONE.
It
is well documented that the Audubons first hired the New York firm
of Nagel & Weingaertner to lithograph and color the octavo
quad prints. N&W were at some point replaced by J.T. Bowen,
who lithographed and colored all 155 plates for all editions. We
do know that N&W produced an unknown number of plates #1-#26
and #29-#31. Any octavo quad print with a N&W credit would
certainly be a 1st edition, and would be worth a
premium as a 1st edition print.
Because
of the above two problems or uncertainties with 1st edition octavo quad prints, I have always advised people to buy
the best and highest quality octavo quad print that they can
afford, and do not concern yourself with editions.
The
155 different octavo quad prints are very collectible and
generally quite affordable. A good number of the 155 prints are of
mice, rats, moles and shrews, which are not the most popular of
four legged animals. About 130 of the 155 different prints would
be considered “lower tier” prints (for a brief discussion and
explanation of “tiers”, see my article, Top Audubon
1st Edition Octavo Bird Prints, on this website), and would
generally retail for around $250.00 or less. Nearly 100 of those
130 lower tier octavo quad prints can be purchased in the $50-$100
price range. Only a small number of octavo quad prints would be
considered upper tier. These would be the most popular prints that
are in high demand, and have the highest retail prices. Below, I
have listed and ranked the top 25 Audubon octavo quad prints. Only
the first thirteen (13) would have retail prices of around $500.00
or higher. The remaining twelve (12) ranked prints would have
retail prices in the range of about $250.00 or more.
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