John James Audubon.  “Chipping Squirrel, Hackee" Plate VIII.  From The Quadrupeds of North America.  New York: Victor G. Audubon, 1849-54.  First edition.  Royal octavo.  Lithograph.  Original hand coloring. 

John James Audubon, perhaps the most famous of American ornithologists, is undeservedly less well known for his wonderful work depicting The Quadrupeds of North America.  The Birds of America was conceived as a portrayal of all the birds in America, and with its great success.  Audubon was inspired to do the same sort of work on the animals of America, with the assistance of his sons, John Woodhouse and Victor.  This resulted in the publication of the imperial folio edition of The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America, illustrating with marvelous skill 150 animal species, including deer, bears, mice, and so on.  As with the work on ornithology, this volume was later issued in octavo size, making it accessible to the general public.  This fascinating print is taken from this smaller edition of Audubon’s ‘forgotten’ volumes, and its quality and attractive appearance bespeaks the unjustness of the work’s reputation.