His interest in natural history enabled the production of an extensive series of color-plate books on birds and mammals, long after most publishers had already switched to smaller sizes and cheaper coloring techniques. Independently wealthy, he spared no expense in the creation of his large-folio works and employed the most acclaimed artists of the day to illustrate these richly-colored images.

Elliot's folios were created for a small, select list of subscribers. Among the rarest and finest works of the late nineteenth century are his Family of Pheasants, 1870-1872, Birds of Paradise, 1873 and Family of Cats, first issued 1878-1883. These extraordinary works achieved a new level of mastery of printing techniques, rendering of the species, capturing the beauty of these exotic creatures.

Comprised of fifty of his most compelling images, the Oppenheimer Field Museum Edition of Elliot's Fifty Best accurately conveys the vivid colors and pristine quality present in the originals in the Field Museum's collection from which they were made. Each print is on Somerset acid-free, cotton rag watercolor paper imported from England.

Price range: Individual prints: $1,200

Complete sets of Elliot's Fifty Best: $13,500