Preliminary identification
Photo reference
5 uploaded photos
Overview
A collection of vintage ephemera including a complete 1948 calendar featuring high-quality lithographic reproductions of John James Audubon's 'Birds of America'. The set includes iconic plates like the Ivory-billed Woodpecker and Columbia Jay, alongside a 1970s 'Tutankhamun' exhibition poster and a tropical landscape print.
Story
In 1948, these calendars brought the majesty of the wild into American living rooms. Northwestern Mutual commissioned these high-fidelity prints to associate their brand with the permanence and beauty of Audubon's legacy. Today, they are a time capsule of post-war printing excellence.
Maker / Origin
John James Audubon was the 19th-century naturalist who revolutionized ornithology with his life-sized 'Birds of America'. Northwestern Mutual, founded in 1857, used his imagery for decades in their famous calendars, which became highly collectible for their framing-quality lithography.
Condition & Value
The calendar shows visible edge wear, minor creasing, and some foxing (brown spotting) consistent with age. The Tutankhamun poster has significant creasing and edge tears which reduce its individual value by roughly 50%.
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.