Audubon Print
Buying and Print Condition
By Ron Flynn
As with
any other art object or collectible, condition is the most important factor when
purchasing an original antique Audubon print. The one word terminology, like
“excellent”, generally used to describe print condition is highly subjective.
Perhaps, a listing of the individual flaws and damage existing on a particular
print is the best way to evaluate print condition, before you buy. I will offer
a detailed discussion of print condition towards the end of this article. First,
I will discuss the various sources where you can buy original antique Audubon
prints.
AUCTION HOUSES –
There are scores of auction houses all
over the Country that sell, from time to time, original antique Audubon prints.
Christie’s and Sotheby’s are probably the best known. Other popular auction
houses include: Treadway, Rago, Phillip’s, Skinner, Doyle and Butterfield’s. I
did an Internet search for auction houses that sell antique prints and found
nearly 40. I subscribe, via email, to the auction listings of 10-12 auction
houses. There are, of course, local and regional auction houses that will be
found in newspapers and yellow page listings, but not necessarily on the
Internet.
The original bound volumes of Audubon’s
prints, when up for sale, would be classified as rare or antiquarian books. When
dis-bound prints, either singly or in multiple lots, are auctioned, they would
be classified as art. The biggest auction houses will conduct auctions confined
to specialized areas. The medium and small auction houses will have regular
sales of mixed items. This might include anything imaginable, but quite often
you will find one or more original Audubon prints among the items up for bid.
The best way to buy at auction is to
actually attend, and personally examine the items at the pre-auction showings.
People will travel long distances to attend and bid at an auction if there is
something there they really want. If you know a print dealer well, and he/she
will be attending a particular auction, you can often make an arrangement for
that dealer to examine an item and bid for you. That dealer will probably ask a
commission/fee of an additional 10% above what the item sells for. If you trust
that dealer and cannot attend, this is an excellent way to purchase an item you
really want.
Finally, you can always place an auction
bid over the phone, either in advance or at the time of the auction. Sometimes,
auction houses will have provisions so you can place your bid on auction items
over the Internet. One antique print dealer, Haley & Steele, regularly conducts
their own antique print auctions from their website. REMEMBER, unless you attend
and examine an auction item, you are bidding sight unseen, and buying “as is”.
Unless you can prove fraud, you are stuck with what you bought and cannot return
it. There will be some description, and usually a picture, in the auction
catalogue. If you cannot attend, auction houses will do their best to answer
your questions about an item, and give you a description of condition. If there
is enough time, many houses will send you photos of an item, or send you images
via email. The amount of additional information/help you might expect, aside
from the catalogue listing, would be in proportion to the perceived value of the
item.
Before bidding and buying Audubon prints
at auction, one should have a good understanding of print condition and the
relative market value of what you are bidding on. Many wonderful bargains can be
found at the medium-smaller mixed auctions, with maybe only one Audubon in the
entire auction. Prices at auction are affected by the economy and the whims of
what’s in and what’s not in the art world. However, it’s still buyer beware!
ANTIQUE PRINT DEALERS OR GALLERIES –
Of the hundreds or thousands of antique
print dealers around the Country, virtually all will operate their own gallery
or store. A relatively small number of antique print dealers, with their own
store, will also sell through their own Internet websites. Finally, there are a
small, but increasing, number of antique print dealers who do business solely on
the Internet, and own no retail store. Owners of retail shops and galleries will
have overhead expenses and this will be reflected in their prices.
The prices of most antique print dealers
are negotiable. Prices for the same print vary widely around the Country. Not
all of these price variations can be attributed to overhead. Some are due to
regional demand; some to print condition, and some price variations come from
the dealer’s knowledge, or lack thereof, of the market for his merchandise. You
should be knowledgeable about market prices for the print you are considering
buying. Don’t be afraid to ask for a 10-15% discount, especially if you are
buying more than one print. The dealer can only say no, and you can always walk
out the door and buy elsewhere, especially if you know the market and have
checked around for availability. As you look through a dealer’s inventory,
notice the differences in condition of prints and try and determine if the
dealer has taken condition into account when he priced his prints. Some dealers
use their own price list, and price all plate #s of the same edition at the same
price, regardless of condition. If the condition of a print does not match up to
the asking price, ask for a price reduction based on condition, provided you
like and can use the print as it is.
The main advantage to going to an antique
print dealer’s gallery is that you can see and examine the items you are
considering buying. If you have an antique print dealer near you, that carries a
good selection at reasonable retail prices, there is something to be said for
doing business there. Over time you can develop a rapport and business
relationship with this dealer. The dealer will earn your trust and you will
appreciate his experience and advice. This dealer would go to extra efforts to
locate a particular print you wanted, that he did not have. If this is not the
way you prefer to collect, you can simply shop around for the best particular
print at the best price. If in a large metropolitan area, you can visit several
galleries. Otherwise, you can collect and buy by phone or on the Internet.
Antique print dealers who are selling
from Internet websites, whether they have a store or not, MUST be extremely
accommodating to Internet buyers, in order to earn their business. You can deal
with an Internet print dealer via email, the phone or both. Internet antique
print dealers should provide you with no nonsense print condition reports, and
not just the word EXCELLENT. They should list all flaws and damage that is on a
print you are considering. They should be willing to email you additional or
close-up scans of the print you are considering. They MUST have a full refund
return policy if you are not satisfied with what you receive (excluding shipping
charges). Use your credit card when you purchase, and don’t accept a return
policy that only gives you a store credit.
AUDUBON PRINTS ON EBAY –
There are other Internet auction sites
besides eBay. However, whenever I have visited them and searched for Audubon, I
mostly got no hits or maybe some cheap posters. I now look at, and use, only
eBay for buying, selling, and tracking Audubon print prices.
eBay should be thought of as sort of a
“wholesale” auction outlet. eBay is an open auction marketplace. However, you do
not get to see, first hand, the merchandise you are bidding on and buying.
Therefore, you must heavily rely on the low-resolution pictures and the
description of condition by the seller.
I URGE EXTREME CAUTION IN BIDDING ON AND
BUYING AUDUBON PRINTS ON EBAY !!!
There are perhaps 10-15 regular sellers
on eBay who list Audubon 1st and 2nd octavo edition bird and quad
prints for sale. Some regularly list 5-10 or more prints each week. Others list
prints less often or in smaller numbers. Some sellers are well known large
antique print dealers using their own names or an eBay ID. Others are smaller
well-established professional rare book or print dealers, and have their own
businesses. Finally, there are individuals, who are undoubtedly collectors, who
list their Audubon prints at auction. In their auction listings, sellers may
make it known who they are, and what experience they have. However, none of this
information, by itself, is any guarantee that the auction pictures you see, and
the descriptions of condition they give, are accurate. If you are the winning
bidder, there is no guarantee that the print you receive is the same one
pictured and described in the auction listing.
The feedback ratings for eBay sellers are
helpful. However, I believe that a large percentage of Audubon print buyers on
eBay are not knowledgeable about market value and the importance of condition in
buying antique prints. The more detailed the seller’s description of condition,
the better. Don’t rely on the auction pictures except to note missing corners
and other paper loss, and to check the position of the image on the sheet (to
determine if the sheet has been trimmed and to make sure there is enough margin
for matting). Only the most obvious flaws and damage show up on those
low-resolution Internet pictures. Some sellers give very detailed and accurate
descriptions of the prints they are selling, and I have a high confidence in
bidding on their auctions. However, other sellers list every one of their prints
as being in “excellent” condition, without any regard or mention of a fox mark
or finger smudge.
I’d be very cautious of sellers who
describe their prints as “excellent”, “super shape”, “fine condition” or similar
terms, but do not include a real condition report. If you are interested in an
item described this way, use eBay’s “ask seller a question” feature to get a
condition report from the seller. If you don’t get a satisfactory answer, don’t
bid on auctions by that seller. There is a regular eBay seller who lists
hundreds of Audubon octavo bird and quad prints, and states they are all “2nd
State”. He never reveals the edition or year the prints were published. If you
read my article Print States Versus Editions, you will learn how meaningless “2nd
State” is. This seller is a professional and knows better. I believe the only
reason for using the “2nd State” description is to confuse and
mislead buyers. Another seller admitted to me over the phone that he uses stock
pictures (rather than an actual scan of the print you are bidding on). He said
that he doesn’t have time to photograph or scan the prints he is selling. So, in
his case, what you see is not what you get.
Some sellers have a strong following on
eBay. It seems that their auctions bring higher prices than an auction for the
same print by another seller. I believe the major reason for this is confidence
in the seller, more than differences in the actual condition of the same print.
These few professional antique print dealers (who sell more than just Audubon
prints), work very hard to provide an accurately described product and super
communications and service to their buyers. Their efforts pay off in higher
prices and an excellent reputation and following.
Some eBay sellers guarantee the
originality of the Audubon prints they list. This guarantee is meaningless
unless backed up with a money back refund policy. The amount of money you have
to bid to win an original Audubon print on eBay is large enough that you don’t
want to risk losing that money to fraudulent sellers. Unless you know a seller
or are confident with the seller’s reputation, I would avoid sending money
orders or personal checks. Use a credit card or PayPal to purchase your auction
winnings. If something goes wrong, you at least have the protection provided by
Federal laws governing credit card use.
I would
avoid buying matted or framed prints on eBay. Unless you can be certain that the
work was done very recently, using the highest quality archival materials, you
will probably wind up discarding the matting materials and having the work
redone. Also, there is the potential that the matting is covering unseen flaws
and damage, either pre-existing or actually caused by the use of older
non-archival materials. When bidding on antique Audubon prints on eBay, be
mindful of the print’s condition and general market value. Avoid getting into a
bidding war with another buyer and running up the price to far more than actual
retail.
PRINT
CONDITION –
I don’t
believe that one-word descriptions like “excellent” are all that useful, either
in describing print condition, or in relying on a word or term in buying a
print. Descriptive terms for print condition are always highly subjective, and
are ALWAYS in the eyes of the seller. Sellers can describe a print as being in
excellent condition no matter how many or what flaws it has. There are no
standards for print condition terms. I believe a detailed condition report,
listing all flaws and damage, plus an evaluation of strike and coloring, is the
most useful and helpful information that a potential buyer of an antique print
can have. Nevertheless, I recognize that people would like definitions for
various print condition terminology, at least as a guide or beginning basis.
Therefore, I offer here my totally subjective definitions for print condition
terminology.
Whether
antique Audubon prints have been carefully stored in their original bound
volumes, or have been framed and hung for a period of time, virtually all will
have flaws and damage from: viewing and handling, heat and light, humidity,
pollutants in the atmosphere, and the very properties in the paper itself. The
vast majority of prints sold today come from recently dis-bound original
volumes. Yet, it seems all have at least a minor flaw or two.
Mint
condition –
MINT
condition means as close to the original condition of the print, when it was
first issued, as is possible. The print would appear clean crisp and
spectacular, and virtually free of flaws and damage. The colors would be bright
and fresh looking. With original Audubon prints having been viewed, handled and
stored for roughly 130-170 years or more, very very few would survive today in
true MINT condition. However, a print that has been cleaned and restored by a
professional conservationist can certainly be described as being in MINT
condition. Still, a tiny mark or flaw, that can’t be removed, might remain
outside the matted image area. Call it a character mark, but it would be
inconspicuous and not detract from the overall beauty of the print.
WHEN YOU PAY FOR MINT CONDITION, BE CERTAIN YOU GET IT.
Excellent
condition -
For a
print to be described as EXCELLENT, the paper must be crisp and fresh, and the
colors bright and vibrant. A print in EXCELLENT condition can have 1 or 2 very
minor flaws outside the matted image area.
Very Good
condition -
A print
in VERY GOOD condition might show the slightest fading of colors, and the paper
might have 1 or 2 minor handling creases along the margins, but still be a light
off-white or creamy color. A print in VERY GOOD condition might have a few minor
flaws outside the matted image area, but no damage. There could be 1 very tiny
inconspicuous mark or spot within the matted image area.
Average
or Good condition –
A print
of AVERAGE/GOOD condition will definitely show a lightening or fading of colors
and/or the text attributions will be lighter or faded. The paper will be well
handled with a number of handling creases and/or the color of the paper will
have started to darken from age. The print will have 3-4 minor flaws, some of
which could be in the matted image area, and/or the print might have minor
damage like a missing corner, margin chip, or ¼” or less marginal tear. Overall,
a print that has been well viewed and handled over the years, and was not stored
under ideal conditions over that period.
Poor
condition -
A print
in POOR condition would be well used, with numerous handling creases to the
point where the sheet is more limp than crisp, and/or there would undoubtedly be
finger smudges along the margin. The colors and text attributions would
definitely be light or faded, and/or the paper would be overall darker in color.
The print would have numerous flaws, both outside and within the matted image
area, and/or the print would have damage in the form of stains or paper losses.
Paper losses would be multiple, and consist of missing corners or marginal chips
and tears. I believe that any print that has been trimmed, or that is so
positioned on the sheet that there is inadequate room to properly mat it, must
be classified as being in POOR condition.
Handling
Creases –
I do not
consider so-called minor handling creases as a flaw or damage to a print.
However, numerous handling creases will affect the condition of the print, and
when they appear as finger smudges, they are flaws. Handling creases are normal
wear occurring from page turning and viewing pages in a book for 100-150 years
or more. A handling crease is not a sharp fold or crease in the paper. Rather,
it is the softening or pliability in a sheet as a result of repeated viewing and
page turning. Unless an antique print was crisp and fresh and seldom viewed, it
would be expected to have minor handling creases. Handling creases would appear
as very slight waviness or rippling in the margins where pages would normally be
handled for page turning. They can easily be seen by holding the print
vertically and viewing the reverse (verso) side. A lamp shown down the reverse
side will reveal very slight bumps or waves in the paper. This is actually
microscopic expansion of the sheet due to handling over time. You can easily
feel if a sheet is crisp and fresh, or more soft and pliable. Handling creases
are NOT true creases, folds or cockling. Handling creases are NOT handling
smudges or finger smudges, which leave a dirty mark on the print (though usually
cleanable by a professional).
Please
read my article titled Definitions of Print Flaws and Damage.
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For Audubon print prices, Price
Guides and CDs go to -
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Copyright (C) 2003 ALL RIGHTS
RESERVED
Ron Flynn, 796 Holly Creek Dr., Holland, MI 49423
