American History – June 2019

(John Hannent) #1

28 AMERICAN HISTORY


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Broad-Winged Hawk


“The Broad-Winged Hawk


is seldom seen in Louisiana,


and I believe never except


during the severe winters


that occasionally occur in


our Middle and Eastern


Districts. I have observed


that its usual range seldom


extends far west of the


Alleghany Mountains; but in


Virginia, Maryland, and all


the States to the eastward


of these, it is by no means


a rare species. I have shot


several in the Jerseys, the


State of New York, near the


Falls of Niagara, and also


in the Great Pine Forest.”


STYLE


In 2010, a complete first


edition of The Birds of


America from Lord Hes-


keth’s collection sold at


Sotheby’s in London for


£7,321,250—roughly $11.5


million—a record price


for a printed book. On


January 20, 2012, a like


volume offered in New


York by heirs of the Duke


of Portland sold for $7.9


million at Christie’s. That


sale brought to 120 the


number of known


surviving copies of


Birds—107 held by


institutions and 13


in private hands.

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