University of Southern Indiana art professor Michael Aakhus used a circular motion to wipe ink across a rare John James Audubon copper plate in preparation of pulling an impression of the plate. The plate is one of only 78 remaining plates of the original 435 used in the printing of Audubon’s masterpiece, The Birds of America. The last to take an impression of the plate would have been the employees of Robert Havell Jr. of London, the firm that printed the Audubon book in late 1820s. Friends of Audubon, a support group for the John James Audubon Museum and the Preston Family Foundation, purchased the plate in 2001, at which time they asked Havell descendants for the right to makes restrikes from the plate.
 

 

University of Southern Indiana art professor Michael Aakhus pulled an impression of the Tell-Tail Godwit or Snipe from a copper plate of John James Audubon’s print. This is the first impression pulled from this plate in over 160 years.

The plate, a most sought after treasure, is one of only 78 remaining plates of the original 435 used in the printing of Audubon’s masterpiece, The Birds ofAmerica. It is an impression of one male and one female Tell-Tail Godwit or Snipe, painted in east Florida.

 Link to view reproduction of original, in color, from over 160 years ago.