Original 1851 Audubon Quadruped Lithograph, Nine-Banded Armadillo, Framed Antique Wood

For sale is an authentic, 19th-century hand-colored lithograph of the highly sought-after Nine-Banded Armadillo, No. 30, Plate CXLVI. This original print is from the historic Royal Octavo edition of John James Audubon’s masterwork, The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America, published in New York between 1851 and 1854. This is a genuine mid-19th-century piece not a modern digital reproduction, poster reprint, or contemporary facsimile. * Artist: Drawn from Nature by John Woodhouse Audubon (under the direction of John James Audubon). * Lithographer & Publisher: Lithographed, printed, and hand-colored by J.T. Bowen in Philadelphia. * Medium: Original hand-colored stone lithograph on historic woven rag paper. * Paper Sheet Size: Exact Royal Octavo dimensions of 10 1/2" inches (Width) by 7" inches (Height). * Housed in a period-appropriate antique wooden frame. Please Read Before Bidding): This piece is a stunning survivor with excellent historical character. * Artwork & Color: The primary illustration of the armadillo and the surrounding desert cacti features exceptionally vibrant, crisp, and beautifully preserved original hand-applied watercolors. The ink and paint details remain untouched and sharp. * Margin Flaws: There is localized vintage tape bleed-through/staining on the blank paper borders at the far right and far left outer edges. These stains are completely contained to the outer margins and away from the primary illustration and text. They can easily be hidden from view if the buyer chooses to add a standard decorative mat board in the future. * Framing & Backing: The print features its vintage framing assembly, complete with a cardboard backing and a historic layer of tissue paper inserted in between as a protective barrier. While it displays beautifully as-is, the backing materials are old and non-archival; serious collectors may eventually want to update the backing to modern acid-free board for maximum long-term conservation. * General Wear: Shows gentle, honest age-toning across the sheet appropriate for a 170+ year old piece of historic paper, with minor handling wear along the absolute edges from its original book binding. No major paper losses, punctures, or active tears. As is. Final sale. Negotiable