John James Audubon's Selected Original Works from "Birds of America". In 1820, Audubon was determined to travel the Mississippi in search of bird specimens, which he intended to introduce into a grand art and science book form. Accompanied by an assistant, a gun, art supplies, and little else, he took on the persona of a seasoned frontiersman. Audubon embraced the hardship of frontier travel and reinvented himself as a rough-hewn explorer and naturalist. In 1822, Audubon, accompanied by his sons and assistant Mason, journeyed to Natchez, Mississippi. Over the next two years, Audubon created an impressive collection of bird drawings. Between 1826-1838 creating "Birds Of America" (435 hand colored collection) 4 volume life-size Folios selling for $1000 each.