In 1838, as John James Audubon’s monumental creation, Birds of America, was nearing completion, he requested that his engraver, Robert Havell, produce 13 extra, unique prints. Havell was instructed to combine images from two separate plates into a single print, commonly known as a “Composite Plate”.

Only two full sets, along with a handful of individual prints, of these rare prints exist today and are rarely if ever seen by the public.

In this book the authors, for the first time, provide an analysis as to how and why these plates were made, while providing illustrations depicting all 13 of the Composite Plates.

About the Authors
Jeff Holt and Albert Filemyr are members and fellows of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club who have conducted significant research and written extensively on early American ornithological history.