In our last newsletter, somewhat prophetically, I chose to write about our long search for one of the original copper plates used to print Audubon’s, The Birds of America.
Just before the newsletter was finished, events began to unfold destined to bring this quest to an end.
Our park manager, Mary Dee Miller received a call from long time associate, Joel Oppenheimer of Kenyon Oppenheimer in Chicago. This firm, one of the most respected in the field, deals in antique natural history prints and their conservation. Mr. Oppenheimer informed Ms. Miller that a family in New England who wished to sell one of these printing plates had approached him. He was offering us first option to purchase.
As we waited for confirmation and progress, and contemplated whether or not we could realistically consider acquiring such a valuable piece of Audubon history, the owners (actually descendants of the engraver, Robert Havell, Jr.) began to shop around with other dealers. This, no one knew until we received another phone call.
A few years ago, Friends of Audubon had purchased for the museum, one of the very rare, crayon, charcoal, graphite portraits done by Audubon on the streets of Louisville following his bankruptcy in Henderson. The portrait was purchased through a dealer in Denver. This dealer, while on her way to drop her daughter at school, received a call on her cell phone. The caller was the same family offering the same plate. She suggested an arrangement, they agreed, and she quickly faxed a contract to the family, cinching the deal. Then she called us.
Then, following some quick assessment of the position of Friends of Audubon, it looked doubtful the purchase was feasible. Representatives of Friends of Audubon and Audubon State Park then approached the Preston Family Foundation with the plea of a joint venture. The Preston Family Foundation had joined with Friends of Audubon on another occasion for the purchase of two original watercolor paintings by Audubon. We hoped this project would interest them as an investment in the history of Henderson’s historic artist. They agreed!
The plate arrived. It is approximately 12" X 15" X 1/8". It is nickel plated to protect the delicate copper edges on the plate. Covering the plate are thousands of minute carved and etched lines, which depict two birds, called today, Greater Yellowlegs.. With a somewhat pastoral scene in the background, painted by Audubon’s assistant George Lehman, it is everything we could possible hope for.
To hold in your hands one of the actual printing plates engraved by Robert Havell, Jr. and compare it with Print 308 in volume four of The Birds of America, to see each line in the plate correspond with those on the print, was quite a rush. Using a jeweler’s loupe and examining the eye of one of the birds we detected an imperfection, a tiny nick in the pupil. Then, looking at the copper plate with the loupe, we could see the tiny nick in the eye. That was a moving moment!
The staff of John James Audubon State Park, and in particular those most involved in the museum, find it quite impossible to express the importance of this acquisition. It essentially completes the collection. That this town of Henderson, Kentucky is the location of the most complete collection of original Audubon artifacts is something to be proud of. That organizations like the Preston Family Foundation and Friends of Audubon are willing to contribute to the historical heritage of the community is indeed something to be proud of.
While we design and construct a special exhibit case for this most wonderful addition to the John James Audubon Museum, the plate is being displayed in Gallery C of the museum, in the case along with Volume I of Audubon’s double elephant folio of, The Birds of America.
