There is an original Audobon print for sale at an estate sale that has caught my eye but with so many auction sites not showing what they sold for and so many copies around, it seems hard to get a bead on this stuff.

The print in question is a Texan Red Wolf which is awesome for several reasons. This particular print was purchased by the estate from Sotheby's for a little over 7 grand and they have the bonadides to back it up. Of course, as a seller, they want top dollar and I get that, but it seems somewhat hard to pin down the current values of things like this. If anyone knows of a great resource to look stuff like this up I would greatly appreciate it.

If you create an account at liveauctioners.com, sold prices will then appear. Use Google to search their site.

Minor word of caution, don't be overly confident in an item just because it was sold through something like sotheby's or Christie's. Ive seen arms and armor sold by them, as original, that were absolute junk. I wouldn't pay that type of money for any collectible without being able to form some of your own opinion that it's legit. The collectibles market as a whole is ripe with fakes and con men.

Really cool looking Audubon by the way. If you haven't been there, check out the Stark museum in Orange, TX.

I agree I would look in to it more before plopping down the cash. The family had I think 28 Audobon prints so that leads me to also believe they knew what they were looking for, but would still do some due diligence. I will look in to that site you mentioned, I appreciate it.

One thing I thought was odd is that almost all of the originals I saw online were approximately 7"x10", which is much smaller than this one.

We have several replica Audobon prints at the house but would absolutely love an original one added to the collection.

ETA thanks for the tip on the museum, I will definitely check it out.

Some other pics I took. My camera is busted and there was a glare.

Probably a plate out of the elephant folio, prices are all over the place on audubon plates depending on the critter, but 7k seems high. I have bought a few plates out of the octavo editions, they are neat and easy to find a place to display

They are asking significantly less than that, i wouldn't swing that much.

I wish. We bought some other art at the sale and they were driving a hard bargain!

Looks like there are some sold examples on liveauctioneers. Hammer prices between $1300-$7500. I'm sure condition can be everything. The venue itself can also make a big difference.

Keep in mind when buying with a potential investment angle, things like this tend to have a thin market. A big auction house can get top dollar because they have a huge email list of collectors. They are charging the buyer and seller each 20%+. If you decide to sell later, you can expect to get significantly less than auction values because you will struggle to get it in front of the right buyers. Very normal for a $10k auction item to sell for $6k-$7k person to person. Let's say your seller puts it back at auction and it sells for a total cost of the same $7500 that they paid. They'll only walk away with $4500.

Some reading.

How to Identify Original Audubon Prints (antiqueaudubon.com)

Is Your Audubon Print An Original? (auduboninfo.net)

Education > Authentication (audubongalleries.com)

That would be cool to own.

Thanks for this!

water turkey said:

---

That would be cool to own.

---

Agreed. It really nails several of the things that have meaning to our family and would be really cool to own an original. Helps that it is really freaking cool.

We have two in our house. Each print is credited to John Woodhouse Audubon as his father's health declined in his later years. These prints are dated somewhere between 1845 1848. I purchased these years ago because I liked the fact that these illustrations were drawn by JW while he was in Texas and they are of big cats found in Texas.

Awesome. I really love the fact that the wolf may well have been seen just down on the banks of the Sabine or Neches, or at least it sure looks like it could have been. I've always liked Audobons work and I think this would be awesome to own, I just really don't want to overpay. Just like real estate, there's always another one. Beautiful prints.

Two on live auctioneers

I saw the one for 2500 and that was sold in 2017. There was one from 2006 I saw that didn't show the price, but I am assuming that is it in your screenshot. They are asking a bit more than that which definitely gives me pause.

Here's a good example of the right venue bringing a better price. "Texas" items sell better in Texas.

John James Audubon (am. 1785-1851), Red Texan Wolf. Male., Canis Lupus, Linn, Var Rufus, No. 17., - Oct 15, 2022 | David Dike Fine Art In Tx (liveauctioneers.com)

I searched red Texas instead of Texan . The original is pricier.

CS78 said:

---

Here's a good example of the right venue bringing a better price. "Texas" items sell better in Texas.

John James Audubon (am. 1785-1851), Red Texan Wolf. Male., Canis Lupus, Linn, Var Rufus, No. 17., - Oct 15, 2022 | David Dike Fine Art In Tx (liveauctioneers.com)

---

You're a huge help. Thanks so much. It is essentially half that price right now, but as you said, the auction house takes a huge chunk.

This thread inspired me to grab a plate I've wanted for a long time

Charismatic Megafauna said:

---

This thread inspired me to grab a plate I've wanted for a long time

---

You jealous?




Dont know you know that cat will bite you?