Princeton Double Elephant Edition

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Our 36 Princeton Audubon Double Elephant Folio prints, measuring a full 26 1/4 x 39 1/4 inches, are the world's only direct-camera facsimiles of Audubon's Birds of America.  Sold unframed, each is a pencil-numbered limited edition on archival, very heavy, acid-free paper with archival inks, and is embossed with the official  Princeton Audubon seal. Outstanding examples of 20th century lithography, these award-winning prints are themselves part of the official collection of the museum of the New-York Historical Society, where the original unfinished watercolor studies are held.  Princetons are renowned for retention of detail and true fidelity to the coloring of the antique originals. 

Far beyond common reproductions, the historic Princeton Audubon Double Elephant Prints are the world's only first-generation facsimile re-creations of the actual antique Audubon/Havell etchings, and are viewed as the finest and most accurate Audubon reproductions ever accomplished. The fundamental reason is as follows. Princeton reproduced original art, not photographs of original art as others have, such as the fine Abbevilles and Amsterdams.  We purchased the actual originals and brought them to our printing plant for direct transfer to fine art paper.

Unframed and measuring more than two feet by three feet, these impressive, sealed, pencil-numbered, limited edition (500 or 1500) images were printed with the finest inks on heavy sheets of acid-free paper that is stressed for 300 years and recommended by the Library of Congress for archives. Additionally, this finest of all paper was specially toned to match the average color of the antique originals. Truly fine art prints, Princetons set the standard in investment-grade Audubon facsimile art. There are simply none finer. Professionally shipped. 

Giving dramatic impact to Audubon's prints, and ours, is their life-size nature.  However, please read on ...

"Merely to say, that each of my illustrations is of the size of nature, were too vague ... Not only is every object, as a whole, of the natural size, but also every portion of each object. The compass aided me in its delineation, regulated and corrected each part, ... The bill, the feet, the legs, the claws, the very feathers as they project one beyond another, have been accurately measured." John James Audubon. Ornithological Biography, Volume 1

Regarding our Princeton Audubon Collection, it would also be too vague to simply say that they are life-size facsimiles. Our purchase of the finest originals, the use of the direct-camera process, the choice and development of special inks, the finest paper available, and the skill of master printers, makes this the finest Audubon series ever produced. It 'eclipses' all others. After all, these were printed by not only a master printer, but by one of the world's foremost Audubon print collectors. It only stands to reason that the Princeton Audubon Collection is also unique. We hope you will agree.