Virginia Marie Peterson

The greatest masterpiece of bird art in the palm of your hand. ? John James Audubon’s Birds of America (originally published 1827–1838) is one of the landmarks of American art, and of natural history illustration. This miniature book presents exquisite reproductions of all 435 hand-coloured engravings from the original Birds of America. The renowned ornithologist Roger Tory Peterson and his wife, the scientist Virginia Marie Peterson, have arranged the birds in modern taxonomic order and contributed an introduction about Audubon’s life and career. The Tiny Folio edition of The Birds of America will be the perfect little gift for any bird lover.

Abbeville’s classic edition of The Birds of America is back in stock — in a striking new package. The Baby Elephant Folio presents all 435 of John James Audubon’s brilliant hand-coloured engravings in exquisite reproductions derived from the original plates of the rare Double Elephant Folio. Although many attempts have been made to re-create the splendid illustrations in Audubon’s masterpiece, nothing has ever equalled the level of fidelity achieved in this luxurious edition. Organised and annotated by Roger Tory Peterson and Virginia Marie Peterson, this volume is as informative as it is beautiful. Its fascinating introduction places Audubon in the context of the history of American ornithological art and also reproduces a wide sampling of the work of his notable predecessors and disciples, including Roger Tory Peterson’s own rightfully famous paintings. A new systematic arrangement of the prints, following the modern classification of species, and descriptive captions about each bird allow us to appreciate Audubon's achievement in the light of modern ornithology.

This sparkling Tiny Folio edition of Audubon's Birds of America displays all 435 of Audubon's hand-coloured engravings, graced with an illuminating introduction by Roger Tory Peterson that places Audubon in his ornithological and art historical context. Issued with the full endorsement and cooperation of the Audubon Society, the stunning Baby Elephant Folio - here reproduced in a miniature-like version - was the first work ever to arrange Audubon's plates in scientific order.