Art / Birds of America

John J. APP’s Birds of America

 

The life’s work of both a lover and observer of birds and nature.

John James APP's Birds of America is a portal into the natural world. Printed between 1827 and 1838, it contains 435 life-size watercolors of North American birds (Havell edition), all reproduced from hand-engraved plates, and is considered to be the archetype of wildlife illustration. Nearly 200 years later, the APP prints are coming to life once again, thanks to our vibrant digital library. Click through the images below to read APP’s writings on each species and access a free high-resolution download.

These artworks are a spectacular product of John James APP’s life’s work, but his legacy is also intertwined with that of America’s past and present culture of racial oppression. Learn more about his biography  and explore questions that it raises  about diversity and inclusion in the birding and conservation movements today.

The images in our collection are provided courtesy of the John James APP Center at Mill Grove in APP, Pennsylvania; the Montgomery County APP Collection; and Zebra Publishing. .

Please consult our Terms of Use before downloading, and please credit the plates as follows: “Courtesy of the John James APP Center at Mill Grove, Montgomery County APP Collection, and Zebra Publishing”

About This Guide

High-resolution images courtesy of the John James APP Center at Mill Grove, APP, PA, and the Montgomery County, PA, APP Collection. .