Aside from being famous in the rare book world, birds of america has. Christies auctions first edition of audubons the birds of. Worlds most expensive book, birds of america, set to fetch. A first edition of john james audubons the birds of america, one of the most celebrated books of natural history, is going up for auction in new york in june and could fetch. Dec 12, 2018 citizens of the feathered tribe audubons the birds of america offered in a dedicated sale in new york on 14 june, this exceptional example of the most valuable illustrated book ever produced and an icon of american art was sold to benefit environmental causes. Dec 08, 2010 a copy of the worlds most expensive printed book has sold at auction for. Winter hawk, plate 71, a handcolored illustration from john james audubons the birds of america, from original drawings, appears in this photo provided by christies, april 25, 2018. Jul, 2017 but calling john james audubons masterpiece of ornithological art, the birds of america, a book is to stretch the limits of the term. Sale n10256view print cataloguesothebys is delighted to be offering an early subscribers copy of audubons double elephant.
Also covers rare book auctions, manuscripts, ephemera, broadsides, maps, prints, posters, bibliography, first editions, incunabula and catalogs. The birds of america is a book by naturalist and painter john james audubon, containing. Offered in a dedicated sale in new york on 14 june, this exceptional example of the most valuable illustrated book ever produced and an icon of american. A big week in the bookauction world, with a set of birds of america on the block this thursday. The book is a sort of shambling explication of ideas supported by not so much a plot as a series of set pieces. Founded in 1997, the kff is tightlippedthey have no website and no staff.
John james audobons birds of america was an instant sensation when it was published for the first time in the 1830s. 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 last print featured in the collection was issued in 1838, after which audubon traveled north america several more times to paint the continents wildlife before finally settling in new york city. 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 expected to sell for up. Produced in collaboration with the uniquely talented printerartist, robert havell, audubons massive work is as the subtitle of this book says the most famous bird book in the world.
Often cited as the most expensive book of all time, there are still 120 known intact copies of john james audubons the birds of america which. One of the few privately owned copies of john james audubons richly illustrated birds of america sold for 7. Worlds most expensive book, birds of america, set to. Audubons birds of america has long been regarded as one of the greatest books ever produced and perhaps the greatest contribution ever made of art in the service of science. This is an unusually large and brilliantly colored. Bids for birds and beyond is your chance to enjoy the excitement of an auction in the safety and comfort of your home, with chances to win exclusive birding tours led by audubon naturalists. Jan 09, 2012 audubons birds of america book lost bird project.
The publishers of which i am aware include welcome rain, laurel glen, and wordsworth. Birds of america by john james audubon sets booksale. The rare book hub offers tools for the book collector and bookseller, especially old and rare books, antique or antiquarian books, hard to find, out of print, and collectible collectable books. Mar, 2001 the book was published in several editions between 1997 and 2000. Apr 26, 2018 in 2010, a full edition of the birds of america sold for. The doubleelephant folio first edition of john james audubons birds of america was. The 19th century masterpiece, replete with count em 435 handcolored illustrations, has long been considered a crucial document about u. Sothebys to offer the birds of america double elephant folio in.
Oct 04, 2011 birds of america is his seminal work, the one against which such contemporary bird artists as roger tory peterson and david sibley are measured. The handcoloured illustration appears in the enormous birds of america, which shows every bird native to north america at actual size. The set going to auction in june was sold in 2012 at christies in. Tracking the most expensive book a copy of audubons birds of. A rare copy of audubons birds of america heads to auction to. This is the best book available for anyone who wishes to see accurate reproductions of audubons greatest work, the double elephant folio edition of birds of america. The stunning book, which took audobon more than a decade to complete, was. A rare copy of audubons birds of america could break.
At bonhams new york on tuesday, june 12, fine books and manuscripts, in 287 lots. Dec 07, 2010 one of the few privately owned copies of john james audubons richly illustrated birds of america sold for 7. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. The snowy owl, in john james audubon, the birds of america. The cast of bart laytons new heist flick gathered to gaze upon a rare copy of the birds of america, which will soon be up for auctionthe same book their characters steal in the. Birds of america is his seminal work, the one against which such contemporary bird artists as roger tory peterson and david sibley are measured. In fine bird books, sacheverell sitwell proclaimed that there is nothing in the world of fine books quite like the first discovery of audubon. Considered the artists greatest triumph, the oversized fourvolume set that contains 435 handcolored prints of his watercolor drawings, published at great personal expense between 1827 and 1838, is the kind of rare book owned only by institutions and one percenters. I checked out this book from my library, hoping it had the full collection of birds from audubons birds of america, but alas the copy by library had only featured 30 color prints from the original. A rare copy of audubons birds of america could break records. Christies auctions first edition of audubons the birds. A rare copy of audubons birds of america heads to auction. Jan 27, 2016 john james audobons birds of america was an instant sensation when it was published for the first time in the 1830s. At christies, three american animals come facetoface with.
Get the best deals for audubon birds of america book at. Audubons birds of america, the most beautiful book in. Sale n10256view print cataloguesothebys is delighted to be offering an early subscribers copy of audubons double elephant folioincomparably the most important and most. Audubons birds of america, the most beautiful book in the. The sale was led by the birds of america 182738, four monumental volumes of 435 handcolored aquatint plates depicting all of the thenknown species of birds found in the. On june 14, one of the worlds most expensive books, john james audubon s doubleelephant folio of the birds of america, will go to auction in new york city. Rare book hub rare books, book auctions, antiquarian book. While there are a handful of books in the world that may be worth more, until 20 birds of america held the record for the most money paid at auction for. I checked out this book from my library, hoping it had the full collection of birds from audubons birds of america, but alas the copy by library had only featured 30 color prints from the original book, with a catalog of the remaining 470 prints printed in blackandwhite thumbnails in the back of the book. It was first published as a series in sections between 1827 and 1838, in edinburgh and london. Rare book hub rare books, book auctions, antiquarian. The four volumes are three feet tall and among them contain.
The sale was led by the birds of america 182738, four monumental volumes of 435 handcolored aquatint plates depicting all of the thenknown species of birds found in the united states. At the age of six he began with sea shells, and soon graduated to coins, the gateway drug. One of the most valuable illustrated books ever produced, a first edition of john james audubons the birds of america, went up for auction at christies in new york, june 14th, and sold for. Only 120 complete sets of audubons 435 handcoloured, lifesized engravings. The book was published in several editions between 1997 and 2000. 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 which fetched over. At christies, three american animals come facetoface. This lot was sold for 3,525,000 usd, setting a new record for an online purchase in a live auction at sothebys. Citizens of the feathered tribe audubons the birds of america offered in a dedicated sale in new york on 14 june, this exceptional example of the most valuable. The birds of america from original drawings by john james. May 31, 2018 the cast of bart laytons new heist flick gathered to gaze upon a rare copy of the birds of america, which will soon be up for auctionthe same book their characters steal in the film.
Rare john james audubon prints up for auction at arader. The set going to auction in june was sold in 2012 at. Bids for birds and beyond is your chance to enjoy the excitement of an auction in the safety and comfort of your home, with chances to win exclusive birding tours led by audubon naturalists, an opportunity to have a wild roseate spoonbill named after you, and other fun prizes in support of audubon florida programs around the state. Birds of america breaks auction book record reuters. Ornithological biography, or an account of the habits of the birds of the united states of america. Citizens of the feathered tribe audubons the birds of america. Audubon, intro william vogt, macmillan book 1941 the birds of america by john james audubon 1937 limited edition great condition. Dec 07, 2010 a copy of john james audubons early19thcentury illustrated birds of america sold in london tonight for 7. Often cited as the most expensive book of all time, there are still 120 known intact copies of john james audubons the birds of america which was published between 1827 and 1838. Do not confuse this book with other books reproducing audubons birds of america with the same or similar title. A copy of john james audubons early19thcentury illustrated birds of america sold in london tonight for 7. The birds of america is a book by naturalist and painter john james audubon, containing illustrations of a wide variety of birds of the united states. The rare book hub offers tools for the book collector and bookseller, especially old and rare books, antique or antiquarian books, hard to find, out of print, and collectible collectable.
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