408 Deane, Audubon's Copper-plates of ' Birds of America.' [oct' 



dred and seventy-five copies ^ which are supposed to have been 

 published, it is said that Havell was required to employ the ser\ices 

 of over fifty persons. Notwithstanding the time and care which 

 the engraver must have devoted to this mammoth undertaking, 

 were it not for the constant and careful attention of Audubon in 

 watching all details as the plates were executed, the work would not 

 have the great reputation which it now bears. 



Mr. Havell brought to America a copy of the 'Birds of America,' 

 and it is said that every plate was carefully selected by himself. 

 It remained in the family many years and was finally sold to Francis 

 and Company, booksellers, New York. It was afterwards pur- 

 chased by Dr. Gurdon W. Russell, Hartford, Conn., who presented 

 it to the library of Trinity College July 10, 1900, after it had been 

 in his possession for some twenty years. 



I am much indebted to Mr. Robert Havell Lockwood, grandson 

 of the engraver, for presenting me with the following hitherto un- 

 published letter, Audubon to Havell. It was written seven months 

 prior to Havell closing up his business and sailing for America 

 with his family. 



Audubon to Havell. 



Edinburgh, Feb. 20th, ]Monday, 1839. 

 My dear Mr. Havell 



I perceive by the date of your letter of the 16th instant that you 

 must have been some days beyond my expectations, in the receiving 

 of my parcel to you, and that on that account my letter of Saturday 

 last crossed yours of the same date. I thank you for what you say 

 as regards the balance in my favor at Wright and Co. 



Does Henry sail from London Docks or from Portsmouth? and 

 pray what is the name of the Captain of the ' Wellington ' ? I do 

 not precisely understand what you mean by the loose sets which you 

 desire to know how they should be packed ? let me hear what they 

 are and how many of them by return of mail. The Jive perfect 



' I have record of the present resting place of seventy-five copies owned in this 

 country. With the exception of a very few sets, they are complete and in good con- 

 dition. A set in the library of the Mechanics-Mercantile Institute, San Francisco, 

 Cal., which had been there for some thirty years, and another set in the San Fran- 

 cisco Art Association, presented in 1894 by Mr. Edward F. Searles, Methuen, Mass., 

 were both destroyed by the disastrous earthquake and fire which visited that city 

 April 18, 1906. 



