Chromolithograph John James Audubon (1785-1851) "Iceland or Jer Falcon." No. 13-2, Plate 19, from: The Birds of America New York: Julius Bien, 1860-61 Rare Books Division, The New York Public Library Lenox Library, Gift of Mrs. Henry Draper   (176 k)

The New York Public Library owns a full set of the never-completed reprint of the original plates, published by Audubon's son, John Woodhouse Audubon (1812—1862). Offered at $500, half the price of the original edition, the plates were to be produced by chromolithography. This work was executed by New York lithographer Julius Bien (1826—1909), who had immigrated to America in 1848. Only 105 of the original 435 plates were completed by 1861 when the Civil War began, and the project came to a halt for lack of subscribers and possible mishandling of funds.