Audubon’s Birds of America

This touring exhibition is now fully booked.

Audubon’s Birds of America presents an exciting opportunity to display a beautiful selection of 46 plates from one of the world’s most famous and valuable rare books, Birds of America by John James Audubon (1785–1851). 

Birds of America is a landmark work of ornithological illustration which took almost 12 years to complete. Today only 120 copies are known to exist and they are rarely on display. The plates featured in this exhibition, each measuring almost one metre (39 inches) in height, are drawn from the National Museums Scotland library collection. The majority have never been on show to the public and have undergone years of conservation treatment in preparation for their inaugural display and tour.

This exhibition is a new interpretation of the making and significance of this incredible body of work and the story is complemented by letters, taxidermy, manuscripts, photography and films. It explores the book’s historical context and considers why Audubon’s artistic style was so ground-breaking. Lastly, it questions how this book came to influence natural sciences today and what we can learn from its legacy.

The exhibition addresses some of the complexities and controversies surrounding the book’s creator, John James Audubon. In addition, it shows how the intelligentsia in Edinburgh, Scotland influenced the book’s formation and led to its publication following Audubon’s rejection by the scientific community in Philadelphia, USA.

An important conservation thread runs throughout the exhibition and is highlighted at the end, raising awareness of our impact on nature and how bird populations have changed since the 19th century. Visitors leave feeling motivated and inspired to protect the natural world.