Preliminary identification
Photo reference
3 uploaded photos
Overview
An extraordinary, massive double-elephant folio facsimile edition of John James Audubon's masterwork, reproduced with breathtaking fidelity by master printmaker M. Bernard Loates. Utilizing a complex, proprietary multi-color lithographic process, this edition was printed on custom-made archival rag paper to match the scale, weight, and vibrant color of the original 19th-century hand-colored engravings.
Story
In the 1980s, Canadian master printer Bernard Loates obsessed over recreating Audubon's genius. He bypassed modern dot-matrix printing, inventing a continuous-tone lithographic process that captured the soul of the original hand-colored plates.
Maker / Origin
M. Bernard Loates was a legendary Canadian publisher and printmaker who dedicated his life to the pinnacle of graphic reproduction. His work with Tryon Mint is celebrated by bibliophiles for achieving a level of color density and detail that modern commercial printing simply cannot replicate.
Condition & Value
The visible plates show excellent color preservation with no apparent foxing or dampstaining. The edges of the large sheets show minor handling wear consistent with being turned on a display easel, which is typical for a set of this scale. Keeping these flat and protected from direct sunlight is crucial to maintaining their value.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.