Audubons birds of america, the worlds most expensive. A rare copy of john james audubons birds of america, billed as the worlds most expensive book, is to go on sale at sothebys, it has been announced. Grab your wallet, here are the most expensive books ever sold. Sep 10, 2010 a rare copy of john james audubons birds of america, billed as the world s most expensive book, is up for sale alongside a first edition of shakespeares plays at an auction to set book lovers.
Rare book the birds of america used for wallpaper at temple. The book received huge appreciations for capturing birds which are now extinct. What christies deemed the most important book in english literature was sold to an anonymous buyer. The london art dealer michael tollemache bought it in 2010 paying 8. The auction was a rare chance to own one of the best preserved editions of the 19th century masterpiece, with its 435 handcoloured illustrations, seen as a key volume on us natural history. So lets have a look at the most expensive books that have been sold all around the world. A rare copy of audubons birds of america heads to auction. These are some of the worlds most expensive books ceoworld. Nov 05, 2014 the world s 10 most expensive books ever sold. Can you think of any book that can be sold in millions of dollars. Dec 07, 2010 a copy of john james audubons birds of america tonight became the most expensive book ever sold when it went under the hammer at sothebys for. The world record for the most expensive book ever sold is a science book. World costliest birds world top 10 most expensive birds.
Worlds most expensive book to go under the hammer reuters. List of most expensive books and manuscripts wikipedia. Worlds most expensive book has collectors chirping. The 10 most expensive books in the world the atlantic. Sep 09, 2010 image caption only 119 complete copies of the birds of america are known to exist. There are 10 other surviving copies of the bay psalm book besides the one auctioned off tuesday evening. Worlds most expensive book, birds of america, set to. The huge book contains 1,000 lifesized illustrations of almost 500 breeds of bird and took wildlife artist audubon 12 years to complete.
One of the people who illustrated for gould was edward lear. The most expensive books in the world readers digest. To others, john james audubons birds of america is a rare blend of art, natural history and craftsmanship, unique enough to be the worlds most expensive book, expected to fetch more. The book, which was sold by the auction house sothebys, was purchased by micahel tollemache, a london art dealer who was present in the room. The codex leicester see this video to know how these books are. The world s most expensive book is poised to break a new sale record friday. Yes, some people have spent such a huge amount just for a single book. Worlds most expensive book to be auctioned telegraph. Birds of america becomes worlds most expensive book.
On friday, christies new york auctioned a copy of john james audubons birds of america, which already holds the title of most valuable printed book in the world. Jan 19, 2012 the worlds most expensive book is poised to break a new sale record friday. Dec 15, 2010 a copy of john james audubons birds of america was sold at an auction in london last week for. Rare birds of america may be worlds most expensive book. The auction was a rare chance to own one of the best preserved editions of the 19th century masterpiece, with its 435 handcolored illustrations. At sothebys auction house in london, up on the block was audubons masterpiece, the birds of america, one of the largest and rarest books in the world. Worlds most expensive book goes up for sale bbc news. Most expensive ever sold books in the world top ten. Jan 27, 2016 the world s most expensive and lifesize collectors book.
A rare copy of john james audubons birds of america, billed as the world s most expensive book, is to go on. Rare book the birds of america used for wallpaper at. Dec 08, 2010 a copy of the worlds most expensive printed book has sold at auction for. A copy of one of the most soughtafter books on birds ever created is up for auction at christies new york, where. Two other copies of the book also raked in big money in the twentieth century. In 1827, lady isabella hertford cut up her copy of the mammoth 39. Birds of america is also very likely the worlds most expensive wall covering. Jan, 2019 the original edition is not only one of the most expensive books in the world, but it is also the most common book among the most expensive books. A rare book by america s most famous bird artist, john james audubon, billed as the most expensive in the world, is going under the.
Other books featured multiple times on the list are the gutenberg bible, the first folio of shakespeare s plays and the north american indian with four separate copies. A rare copy of john james audubons birds of america, billed as the world s most expensive book, is up for sale alongside a first edition of shakespeares plays at an auction to set book lovers. The 19th century masterpiece, replete with count em 435 handcolored illustrations, has long been considered a crucial document about u. On june 14, one of the worlds most expensive books, john james audubons doubleelephant folio of the birds of america, will go to auction in new york city. Worlds most expensive book, birds of america, set to fetch. A copy of the worlds most expensive book, john james audubons 19thcentury masterpiece birds of america, is set for auction later this month and is. Top 5 most expensive books in the world amazing facts. The copy had been previously sold in 1999 in london for 9. Dec 07, 2010 to others, john james audubons birds of america is a rare blend of art, natural history and craftsmanship, unique enough to be the worlds most expensive book, expected to fetch more.
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