This is a photograph of a print in my possession of J.J. Audubon Plate 53 "Painted Finch" (now Painted Bunting), from the double elephant folio "Birds of America". This is an artist's proof signed "R.H. 1833" (Robert Havell, Jr.)
Thanks to you both for you appreciative comments. There is an interesting story about this unique print some of which I will tell now. It concerns the collaboration between Audubon and the Robert Havells, Sr. and especially Jr. I obtained the "Painted Finch" print for a modest sum at auction about ten years ago not sure of it's place in the Havell/Audubon oeuvre, or even if it was genuine. Around six years ago I noticed a gallery exhibition in New York of Havell/Audubon artist's proofs offered by descendants of Robt Havell, Jr. and one of the items there (Plate 96-Columbia Jay) bore the exact "RH" signature. The author of the exhibition catalog confirmed that the print I have is part of the quite small pool of surviving examples of artist's proofs from the Havell/Audubon collaboration. How it came to be separated from the others is a mystery.
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