JOHN JAMES AUDUBON - RECEIPT SIGNED 09/28/1844 - HFSID 350484

JOHN JAMES AUDUBON
Audubon signs an 1844 receipt acknowledging payment for volumes of his works.
Receipt signed: "John J Audubon", 8x5. New York, 1844 September 28. In full: "To James Munroe Esqr., For Nos: 98, 99 & 100, "Birds of America" $3.--, For Nos: 6 & 7, Quadrupeds of America 20.--, (total) $23.--, New York Septr 28. 1844. Recd - Payment". When ornithological pioneer, John James Audubon signed this receipt for his books in 1844, he was diligently working on what would be his last project: Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America, plates in two volumes (1842-1845), text in three volumes (1846-1954). He was assisted by his sons and Reverend John Bachman (1790-1874), a naturalist and associate of Audubon's since 1831. His previous publication, Birds of America (1826-1838), in four volumes, each copy costing $1,000, was done from his watercolors by a London engraver who had engraved the copper plates, impressed them on paper and hand colored them. Audubon had searched for an American publisher for his works, but unable to fine one, due to the publishing price of $100,000, he had gone abroad. Audubon's fantastic and minutely detailed paintings portrayed 1,065 life-sized birds in natural poses and in their natural habitat. The published work consisted of 435 oversized engravings of nearly 500 species. Audubon and William MacGillivray (1796-1852), a Scottish naturalist, wrote the text to accompany Birds entitled Ornithological Biography (1831-1839), consisting of five octavo volumes. They also wrote A Synopsis of the Birds of North America (1839) which is an index for Birds. A third edition of Ornithological Biography (1840-1844) in seven volumes was published in New York. In 1808, Audubon had decided to pursue, in earnest, his love of nature. He tramped the woods around Louisville, Kentucky, became an avid woodsman and collected various bird specimens for his paintings. In 1842, he and his wife and their two sons, who had each married Bachman's daughters, settled in New York City. His house on the Hudson River, which he named Minniesland, is now known as Audubon Park. The National Audubon Society (1905) was established to honor Audubon and to make the public aware of the need for conservation of wildlife, plants, soil and water. His genius is recognized worldwide, and he is renowned as one of history's greatest bird illustrators. Creased. ¼-inch tear below signature (all intact). Overall, fine condition. Framed to an overall size of 33½ x 20.