Original Audubon Havell Common Cormorant, Plate 266
Note: Plates ending with the digit 1 or 6 are often more valuable as investments.
- Artist: The drawing was created by John James Audubon, with this original engraving, printing, and coloring by Robert Havell Jr..
- Date: Audubon painted the female and young birds in Labrador in July 1833 and likely added the male in March 1834. This original Havell edition engraving is from around 1835.
- Description: The plate shows a family of cormorants perched precariously on a rocky cliffside. Audubon's writing describes how he came across the birds while crawling along a precipice, noting their affectionate behavior toward one another.
These are sometimes termed the Audubon/Havell prints, Havell being the primary engraver. These prints were produced by using as a basis the watercolor compositions or studies that Audubon accomplished mainly in the open field. These were then taken to London, where Havell's shop was located. Havell, often under the direct supervision of Audubon himself, would then engrave with precision tools a reverse image of the watercolor study onto copper plates, some plates being as large as 27 1/2 x 39 1/2 inches. The plates were then inked, the paper dampened, and then both were pressed together in a press. The paper was then pulled or peeled off the plate, resulting in properly oriented black and white image which was then hand colored.
Note: Plates ending with the digit 1 or 6 are often more valuable as investments.
- Artist: The drawing was created by John James Audubon, with this original engraving, printing, and coloring by Robert Havell Jr..
- Date: Audubon painted the female and young birds in Labrador in July 1833 and likely added the male in March 1834. This original Havell edition engraving is from around 1835.
- Description: The plate shows a family of cormorants perched precariously on a rocky cliffside. Audubon's writing describes how he came across the birds while crawling along a precipice, noting their affectionate behavior toward one another.
These are sometimes termed the Audubon/Havell prints, Havell being the primary engraver. These prints were produced by using as a basis the watercolor compositions or studies that Audubon accomplished mainly in the open field. These were then taken to London, where Havell's shop was located. Havell, often under the direct supervision of Audubon himself, would then engrave with precision tools a reverse image of the watercolor study onto copper plates, some plates being as large as 27 1/2 x 39 1/2 inches. The plates were then inked, the paper dampened, and then both were pressed together in a press. The paper was then pulled or peeled off the plate, resulting in properly oriented black and white image which was then hand colored.