Beschreibung:

AUDUBON, VICTOR GIFFORD. A group of 81 autograph letters and autograph documents signed (mostly "V.G. Audubon,"), plus related correspondence, including: 1 ALS of John Woodhouse Audubon a contract signed by Victor and Rice and 1 letter from Harper & Bros.; all to Daniel Rice, a book subscription agent based in Philadelphia (a few to Rice and his partner Clark); New York and New Orleans, various dates from 19 January 1845 to 28 May 1859. 89 pieces, totalling approximately 115 pages, 4to and smaller, most letters with integral address leaves bearing original postmarks and stamps. An extensive correspondence which illuminates the complex business relationships between Victor Audubon, publisher of the highly successful octavo-format editions of The Birds of America (New York, 1840-44 and later editions) and The Quadrupeds of North America (New York, 1849-54 and later editions), and Rice, a book subscription agent. (Rice was a co-publisher of McKenney and Hall, History of the Indian Tribes of North America , 1836-1842, referred to in several letters.) In their contract of 1 November 1846 Rice agrees "to procure as many subscribers as he can" to the two works, on which he will receive a 25 commission; Audubon agrees to take back unsold sets or parts, for credit. The ensuing letters reveal much regarding the publishing history of these two important works and discuss sales trips undertaken by Rice (mostly into the south), problems in printing and coloring the lithographic plates, difficulties in maintaining their accounts and collecting payments, the supply of the letterpress text, and even details of the binding of sets (several different binders in various cities are named). On occasion, Rice purchased copies of the large folio Viviparous Quadrupeds for subscribers; these are usually referred to as the "large" Quadrupeds . In a letter of 18 June 1857, Audubon writes: The stones on which the Birds are done are in better condition than the quadrupeds, and with a few new drawings , both works will print good impressions....a good number of the drawings and stones are as good as ever they were ." [ With :] JOHN JAMES AND VICTOR GIFFORD AUDUBON A group of 22 uncolored, 8 partially tinted and 3 finished hand-colored lithographic plates for the octavo edition The Birds of North America , all by J.T. Bowen of Philadelphia after Audubon, possibly proof plates or samples furnished to Daniel Rice; along with 3 additional finished hand-colored plates (plates 29, 105 and 441) which may have served as colorist's proofs or models since the margins show test strokes of various watercolor pigments; together 36 pieces, 8vo, the last three with soiling and fraying to margins -- ANONYMOUS ARTIST. A group of 19 unsigned pencil or pencil and watercolor drawings, comprising 14 portraits, 2 sketches of sailing ships (one labeled "A Bermudian Sloop"), 1 landscape with horseman and two boatmen in a small boat, 1 sketch of legs and 1 of two cows; together 19 pieces, in poor condition, stained and the paper defective in some cases, irregular margins. (143)