Beschreibung:

Audubon, John James Autograph letter signed ("John J Audubon") to Gideon B. Smith, regarding the receipt of bird specimens 
1p, 4to (148 x 205), on a bifolium, written from Minnie's Land, 30 January 1843, verso of with second autograph letter signed, by Victor Gifford Audubon (son of the naturalist), of same date; old folds, traces of wax seal. 
"I have not seen a New Bird for upwards of Eight Years."
In 1841, having finished the Ornithological Biographies, an elderly Audubon bought an estate on the Hudson River. During this time, he published the octavo edition of The Birds of America (see lot 1016), which featured an additional 65 plates. He hoped this publication would enable him to leave his family financially secure. His economic concerns, it would seem Audubon's time was consumed with all things ornithological. In the present letter, he writes from his Hudson home to acknowledge receipt of two bird specimens:
"...I will hasten to tell you what they are, and at which plate of the work you will see them figured. As I have not seen a New Bird for upward of Eight Years, when ever I am told of such having been found, I feel quite glad though generally suspicious, but usually however disappointed when the specimens reach me...Your two Birds are called the Pine Finch or Pine Grosbeak...the old males are superbly red in the Spring and Winter...In one instance my Wife and I saw some hundreds in one of our trees, and had I had a Gun, I could have killed many at a shot. It is the Corythus Enucleator of Linn. and forms the 199th plate of the little work [in the 8vo edition of The Birds of America] where you will see male, female and young. I thank you for them however, as it will enable me someday to mention their visits as far South as Baltimore."
John James Audubon spent much of his time undertaking "subscription-gathering trips," eager to increase sales for the recently published octavo edition. With the apple not falling far from the tree, his son Victor's letter concerns a payment and observes that "we are short of no. 64 for several subscribers."
PROVENANCE:Christie's New York, 9 June 1999, lot 158