American Bittern by John James Audubon, 1827

Regular price£35
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Collector's Offer: Save 20% on 2 Save 33% on 3

The Collector’s Offer

Choose two eligible works and receive 20% off both. Choose three and the lowest-priced one is complimentary, a maximum saving of 33%.

Mix and match eligible standard maps and fine-art prints. No code is required; the offer is applied automatically at checkout.

Standard made-to-order configurations are included. Bespoke sizes, personalised designs and commissioned work are excluded.

Need delivery to different addresses? Contact us before ordering.
Collector's Offer: Save 20% on 2 Save 33% on 3

The Collector’s Offer

Choose two eligible works and receive 20% off both. Choose three and the lowest-priced one is complimentary, a maximum saving of 33%.

Mix and match eligible standard maps and fine-art prints. No code is required; the offer is applied automatically at checkout.

Standard made-to-order configurations are included. Bespoke sizes, personalised designs and commissioned work are excluded.

Need delivery to different addresses? Contact us before ordering.

Restored in London Made in the UK
Restored in London • Made in the UK
Free delivery in 2–3 days
90-day money-back returns 10-year guarantee
Free delivery in 2–3 days 90-day money-back returns
Original artist’s work Never AI-generated

Authentic artwork

The artwork we print is faithfully restored from the original source - usually a museum, library or private collection.

We never replace, redraw or invent the artist’s work using generative AI.

Restored from the original 1827 artwork and printed to museum-grade archival standards. Read the story behind this artwork

Chosen for Bird lovers Studies & libraries Classic interiors

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Gift message & custom finish

If you want to add a gift message, or a finish (jigsaw, aluminium board, etc.) that is not available here, please request it in the "order note" when you check out.

Every order is custom made, so if you need the size adjusted slightly, or printed on an unusual material, just let us know. We've done thousands of custom orders over the years, so there's (almost) nothing we can't manage.

You can also contact us before you order, if you prefer!

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  • Made locally for fast, safe delivery
  • No import duty or hidden fees
  • Need advice? Call us or message on WhatsApp

Chosen by collectors, designers and gift buyers

8,000+ five-star reviews

American Bittern, first published in 1827, is one of the most attractive and colourful illustrations from John James Audobon's magnum opus, The...

American Bittern, first published in 1827, is one of the most attractive and colourful illustrations from John James Audobon's magnum opus, The Birds of America.

And now, for the first time in almost 200 years, you can now buy a unique, personalised print of American Bittern. Your personalised art will be handcrafted at The Unique Maps Co. workshop, and then printed on gorgeously thick archival matte paper that won't fade or wrinkle for decades to come.

Personalisation is a free, optional service. You do not have to personalise your art - though, if you are giving it as a gift, I would highly recommend it. My personalised artwork is always very well received.

You can see an example of my fine art personalisation service in the fourth image. Zoom in and take a look.

The Birds ofAmerica was a monumental work consisting of 435 handcoloured prints of American birds. There are very few copies of this book still in existence, and almost all of them are held by libraries and big institutions.

Notably, the pages of the book were massive - life-size, in fact - which allowed Audobon to create immensely detailed illustrations of the birds. The landscapes and backgrounds are generally very beautiful, too.

Observant naturalists will note that there's actually a male and female American Bittern in this illustration. The male is on the left, with the more prominent head plumage. doesn't exist any more. At the time, Audobon named this bird as the ardea minor, but it has since been reclassified to Botaurus lentiginosus. This wading bird can be found almost exclusively in North America; it breeds in Canada & Greenland, and winters in the Gulf of Mexico.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving or housewarming gift for someone who has impeccable taste in art - or perhaps an interest in birds and the natural world.

The model in the images is holding the18x24in (45.5x61cm)version of this artwork.

I can print and frame this beautiful piece of art at sizes up to 3 metres (10ft). If you are looking for a size or framing option that isn't available online, please get in touch.

This artwork is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This artwork is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The work is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present an art print without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas art and explore the differences between my different finishes.

Many of our maps and art prints are chosen as thoughtful gifts for homes, offices, studies and meaningful places.

Choose a framed option for the easiest ready-to-hang gift, or choose an unframed print if the recipient may prefer to select their own frame.

We make orders locally in 23 countries around the world, so gifts can often be produced close to the recipient. This helps them arrive faster, travel more safely, and avoid customs or import duty surprises.

  • We can deliver directly to the recipient
  • Framed pieces arrive ready to hang
  • Unframed prints are carefully packed in a strong protective tube
  • Almost every order is made locally, for faster, safer gifting
  • 90-day returns give the recipient time to decide

If you are not sure what to choose, please contact us. We can help you pick the right map, size, finish or delivery option.

Most orders are made locally and delivered in around 2–3 working days, depending on the product, size and destination.

We print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world, so your order is usually made close to you or your recipient. That means faster delivery, less time in transit, and no customs or import duty surprises.

Personalised and customised pieces usually take an extra 1–2 working days, because we prepare your design and send it to you for approval before printing.

Very large framed orders can take a little longer, as they need extra care in production and delivery.

Every order is carefully packaged: unframed prints are sent in a strong protective tube, while framed pieces are securely packed with protective materials around the frame.

If you need your order by a particular date, please contact us before ordering. We’ll check the best production route and delivery option for your location.

Express delivery is available at checkout for most countries. Next-day delivery is available in the UK, US, Singapore and the UAE.

Your order is covered by our 90-day returns policy and 10-year guarantee.

Read our full delivery and local production guide

Our standard frame is a gallery-style black ash hardwood frame, with a simple, modern look. It is approximately 20mm (0.8in) wide. You can also view some lovely customer photos of framed maps and art.

We use super-clear acrylic glazing, also known as Perspex or Acrylite, instead of traditional glass. It is lighter, safer, and has lower reflectivity, giving the artwork a clearer, cleaner appearance.

Six standard frame colours are available at no extra cost: black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white, and antique gold. Custom framing and mounting/matting is also available for customers looking for something more specific.

Most maps, art prints, and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced wooden box frame, and then float the piece within a wooden outer frame. The finished result is beautifully presented, with no glazing between you and the artwork.

All frames are supplied ready to hang, with either string or brackets fitted to the back. Very large frames will include heavy-duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

We can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag, and other materials.

If you would prefer to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read our size guide before ordering.

Every restored art print begins with the original artist’s work—never an AI-generated replacement.

Our London studio works from carefully selected source material from museums, libraries, archives and private collections. We restore age-related damage, faded colour and imperfect reproduction while preserving the artist’s composition, brushwork, line, texture and period character.

We do not use generative AI to redraw, reinterpret or invent the artwork. Digital restoration is used only to recover and reproduce the original work as faithfully as possible.

Once restored, the master artwork is prepared for your chosen size and finish. Your piece is then printed and, where selected, framed close to its delivery destination.

Our giclée art prints use acid-free 200gsm archival matte paper and fade-resistant pigment inks for a rich, museum-quality finish. Framed art prints use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.

Framed canvas and specialist cotton-rag editions are also available. Learn more about our materials and finishes.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

If you are not happy with your order for any reason, contact me and I'll get it fixed ASAP, free of charge. Please see my returns and refund policy for more information.

I am very confident you will like your restored map or art print. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and art prints and have over 5,000 real 5-star reviews. My work has been featured in interior design magazines, on the BBC, and on the walls of dozens of 5-star hotels.

I use a unique process to restore maps and artwork that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps and illustrations can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore them. As a result, I guarantee my maps and art prints are a cut above the rest. I stand by my products and will always make sure you're 100% happy with what you receive.

Almost all of my maps and art prints look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.