Most expensive book? It's about birds!

[Bobbie Ireland]

Wouldn't we all love to have a copy of this?!


World's most expensive book goes back on sale

A book that sold for a record-breaking price of $8.8m (£5.7m) a decade ago is going back on sale at Sotheby's, the auction house has announced.

John James Audubon's Birds of America will go under the hammer along with other items from the collection of the late Lord Hesketh.

The book contains 1,000 life-sized illustrations of almost 500 species.

Only 119 complete copies of the 19th-century book are known to exist, and 108 are owned by museums and libraries.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11242275

[anneintoronto]

Hi Bobbie!  Have you had a good morning?  How's the weather?  It's finally become cooler and dryer here!  

Anyway, I have to add that if the Audubon book went for $8.8M 10 years ago, it sure ain't going to go CHEEP now!  

Sorry!  I've been up all night and couldn't resist in my dazed state!  

Anne in Toronto

[Bobbie Ireland]

The Irish weather is a tad iffy today, Anne - and after we had such a long, sunny spell. The trees are looking a bit autumnal too. The big horse chestnuts are usually the first to go, but with all the recent warmth, the butterflies are on a bit of a resurgence... wonderful to see. We still have swallows larking around the garden... they come here to play and frolic, it seems, then head elsewhere to build their nests and raise their young. How rude is that?!

And... oh dear... cheep?! You bet! (I think you might need some rest, m'dear!)

Slainte!

Bobbie

(Here's one... the spell check tells me that "m'dear" should be "Medea"...)

[Donna]

Wouldn't we all love to have a copy of this?!


World's most expensive book goes back on sale

A book that sold for a record-breaking price of $8.8m (£5.7m) a decade ago is going back on sale at Sotheby's, the auction house has announced.

John James Audubon's Birds of America will go under the hammer along with other items from the collection of the late Lord Hesketh.

The book contains 1,000 life-sized illustrations of almost 500 species.

Only 119 complete copies of the 19th-century book are known to exist, and 108 are owned by museums and libraries.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11242275

I'm bidding on that one!

[Bobbie Ireland]

I'm bidding on that one!
[/quote]

I got dibs on borrowing it first when you're finished!

[Carol P.]

Wonder what the starting bid will be?   

One of the reasons why there aren't many complete copies of this book is because people took them apart to sell the pages with pictures of the birds on them separately for framing.  The pictures in these old bird books are stunning.

[Bobbie Ireland]

Wonder what the starting bid will be?   

One of the reasons why there aren't many complete copies of this book is because people took them apart to sell the pages with pictures of the birds on them separately for framing.  The pictures in these old bird books are stunning.

I had also read that, Carol. In addition to actually holding such a treasure, I would love to give it a good sniff... a must for a fine book. Sure wish I could find a link for us that would show more plates than the site I noted... must have a look. Probably on the Sotheby's website, now that I think of it.

[Donna]

I'm bidding on that one!

I got dibs on borrowing it first when you're finished!
[/quote]

K Bobbie, your #1 on my list!

[Donna]

Wonder what the starting bid will be?   

One of the reasons why there aren't many complete copies of this book is because people took them apart to sell the pages with pictures of the birds on them separately for framing.  The pictures in these old bird books are stunning.

I had also read that, Carol. In addition to actually holding such a treasure, I would love to give it a good sniff... a must for a fine book. Sure wish I could find a link for us that would show more plates than the site I noted... must have a look. Probably on the Sotheby's website, now that I think of it.

http://www.google.com/images?q=John%20James%20Audubon%27s%20Birds%20of%20America&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1280&bih=576 Try this Bobbie

[Bobbie Ireland]

Wonder what the starting bid will be?   

One of the reasons why there aren't many complete copies of this book is because people took them apart to sell the pages with pictures of the birds on them separately for framing.  The pictures in these old bird books are stunning.

I had also read that, Carol. In addition to actually holding such a treasure, I would love to give it a good sniff... a must for a fine book. Sure wish I could find a link for us that would show more plates than the site I noted... must have a look. Probably on the Sotheby's website, now that I think of it.

http://www.google.com/images?q=John%20James%20Audubon%27s%20Birds%20of%20America&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1280&bih=576 Try this Bobbie

Well done, Girlfriend!! The very thing! (And yet another excuse to delay the big print-out I have to do...) The images are breathtaking...

[Bobbie Ireland]

I'm bidding on that one!

I got dibs on borrowing it first when you're finished!

K Bobbie, your #1 on my list!
[/quote]

Yippee Ki-yay, Baby!

As they say here... you better get out on the bridge with your tin cup to raise the funds...

[MAK]

Wow those pics are wonderful!  Thanks google girl!!

[Patti from Kentucky]

Wouldn't we all love to have a copy of this?!


World's most expensive book goes back on sale

A book that sold for a record-breaking price of $8.8m (£5.7m) a decade ago is going back on sale at Sotheby's, the auction house has announced.

John James Audubon's Birds of America will go under the hammer along with other items from the collection of the late Lord Hesketh.

The book contains 1,000 life-sized illustrations of almost 500 species.

Only 119 complete copies of the 19th-century book are known to exist, and 108 are owned by museums and libraries.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11242275

I got to see one of the 119 copies at the John James Audubon State Park in Henderson, Kentucky.  Of course it's under glass so you can't actually sit and turn the pages with your grubby little hands, but the museum there has lots of other interesting Audubon artifacts, including original watercolors, one or more of the original copper plates used to print the engravings, clothes, guns, letters, all of the usual stuff celebrating someone's life.

It's a nice little museum with a lovely nature center and small wildlife refuge in the middle of an urban environment.

Patti

[Bobbie Ireland]

Awwww, Patti Lucky ole you! Kinda like seeing the Birder's Book of Kells...

[Dumpsterkitty]

A blog I follow, TYWKIWIDBI, has post today about this book...and a picture of a copy!



WOW!