Original Octavo Mammals, Matted
These prints measure 6 1/2 x 10 1/2 inches, and the matting brings it out to about 11 x 14 inches. These are actual Audubon originals, not reproductions.
Audubon's sons saw the need to reduce the size of the Imperials, and beginning in 1849, the octavo edition of The Quadrupeds of North America was published in three volumes. Volume 1 was followed in 1851 with the second volume, and the final, the third volume was published in 1854. Between 1,999 and 2,004 sets were published in this first edition. The size for these editions was about 6 1/2 x 10 1/2 inches.
A second edition was published in 1852-54, a third in 1856-60, and a fourth in 1870.
