The World's Only Direct-camera Audubon Quadruped Re-creations.

Texan Hare, Plate # 133, limited edition of 750, 22" x 28", Southart/Parkway Series, $250

Toward the end of his life, Audubon endeavored to depict all the known species of North American mammals.  These were published in three sets by J. Bowen between 1845 and 1848.  Known in the trade as the Imperials, his detailed images measured 22 x 28 inches.  We have produced same size facsimiles of these engravings, using the fine originals from the Princeton University collection.  These reproductions, as with our Birds of America reproductions, are direct-camera prints.  They represent the first successful attempt to reproduce directly from the actual antique originals, instead of reproducing a mere photograph of an original.  The 100% rag, acid-free Somerset archival paper is imported from England, and has the tone and texture of the originals.

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TEXAN HARE – PLATE CXXXIII

(Black-tailed Jack Rabbit) Lepus californicus texianus

            The Texan Hare is another contribution from John Woodhouse Audubon acquired from a Texas Ranger on his 1845-46 expedition. Because of slight variations in color and size, it was thought to be a new species, but later found to be related to the Californian Hare. Bachman and Audubon commented on the similarities between the three, but basic questions about what makes a species or sub-species were still being explored. Now, both are a sub-species of the black-tailed jack rabbit.

            To give the reader an idea of the brave new world of science that they had entered, Bachman and Audubon wrote: “Fabulous stories similar to those related of many other animals of which little was formerly known, have been told us of this Hare, which has been described as enormously large, and was many years ago mentioned to us as equal in size to a fox.  Of course we were somewhat disappointed when we procured specimens, although it is a fine large species.”