John James Audubon (1785-1851), Booby Gannet, Plate 207

AUDUBON, John James (1785 - 1851).
Booby Gannet, Plate 207.
Aquatint engraving with original hand color.
London: Robert Havell, 1827-1838.
25 7/8” x 38 5/8” sheet.

Comparables: Arader Galleries, 2019 - $16,250; Neal Auction Co., 2011 - $15,535.

"As the Marion was nearing the curious islets of the Tortugas, one of the birds that more particularly attracted my notice was of this species. The nearer we approached the land, the more numerous did they become, and I felt delighted with the hope that ere many days should elapse, I should have an opportunity of studying their habits. As night drew her sombre curtain over the face of nature, some of these birds alighted on the top-yard of our bark, and I observed ever afterwards that they manifested a propensity to roost at as great a height as possible above the surrounding objects, making choice of the tops of bushes, or even upright poles, and disputing with each other the privilege" (Audubon's Ornithological Biography, 1831).