This touring exhibition 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).

The tour is now fully booked and will be on display at our partner venues throughout 2025.

'Birds of America' is a landmark work of ornithological illustration. It achieved international renown due to the epic scale of the project and the book’s spectacular, life-sized bird illustrations. The book was the culmination of Audubon’s ambition to paint every bird species in North America, which took almost 12 years to complete. It is celebrated for its extraordinarily animated, dramatic and detailed illustrations.

Today only 120 complete copies of 'Birds of America' are known to exist and they are rarely on display. The beautiful framed 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 public display, and have undergone years of conservation treatment in preparation for this touring exhibition.

This exhibition is a new interpretation of the creation and significance of this incredible body of work and the fascinating story is complemented by letters, books, manuscripts, photography, projections 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.