Birds of america book auction

The four volumes are three feet tall and among them contain. 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. The set going to auction in june was sold in 2012 at. Tracking the most expensive book a copy of audubons birds of. It was first published as a series in sections between 1827 and 1838, in edinburgh and london. 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. The stunning book, which took audobon more than a decade to complete, was. Jan 09, 2012 audubons birds of america book lost bird project.

Jan 27, 2016 john james audobons birds of america was an instant sensation when it was published for the first time in the 1830s. 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. At christies, three american animals come facetoface with. Audubons birds of america, the most beautiful book in the. The birds of america from original drawings by john james. A big week in the bookauction world, with a set of birds of america on the block this thursday.

Rare book the birds of america used for wallpaper at temple. 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. Sothebys to offer the birds of america double elephant folio in. Only 120 complete sets of audubons 435 handcoloured, lifesized engravings. Much of the first half of birds of america is a mary mccarthy uses peter as a naive mouthpiece for a lot of leftist thinking of the 1950s and 60s. 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. Dec 07, 2010 one of the few privately owned copies of john james audubons richly illustrated birds of america sold for 7. Sale n10256view print cataloguesothebys is delighted to be offering an early subscribers copy of audubons double elephant folioincomparably the most important and most beautiful colorplate book ever published, containing 435 magnificant handcolored etched plates, depicting in life size 1,065 birds representing 489 supposed species. 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. 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. John james audobons birds of america was an instant sensation when it was published for the first time in the 1830s.

This lot was sold for 3,525,000 usd, setting a new record for an online purchase in a live auction at sothebys. Christies auctions first edition of audubons the birds of. Audubon, intro william vogt, macmillan book 1941 the birds of america by john james audubon 1937 limited edition great condition. 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 rare copy of audubons birds of america could break records.

Citizens of the feathered tribe audubons the birds of america. The publishers of which i am aware include welcome rain, laurel glen, and wordsworth. Birds of america is his seminal work, the one against which such contemporary bird artists as roger tory peterson and david sibley are measured. Worlds most expensive book, birds of america, set to fetch. Do not confuse this book with other books reproducing audubons birds of america with the same or similar title. 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. 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. Dec 08, 2010 a copy of the worlds most expensive printed book has sold at auction for. Sale n10256view print cataloguesothebys is delighted to be offering an early subscribers copy of audubons double elephant. Audubons birds of america, the most beautiful book in. 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. 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. 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.

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. 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. A rare copy of audubons birds of america could break. 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. The book was published in several editions between 1997 and 2000. Mar, 2001 the book was published in several editions between 1997 and 2000. In fine bird books, sacheverell sitwell proclaimed that there is nothing in the world of fine books quite like the first discovery of audubon. Birds of america by john james audubon sets booksale. 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. Rare book hub rare books, book auctions, antiquarian book. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. Ornithological biography, or an account of the habits of the birds of the united states of america. 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.

The book is a sort of shambling explication of ideas supported by not so much a plot as a series of set pieces. 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. 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. Worlds most expensive book, birds of america, set to. A copy of john james audubons early19thcentury illustrated birds of america sold in london tonight for 7. The snowy owl, in john james audubon, the birds of america. But calling john james audubons masterpiece of ornithological art, the birds of america, a book is to stretch the limits of the term. The 19th century masterpiece, replete with count em 435 handcolored illustrations, has long been considered a crucial document about u. 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.

Christies auctions first edition of audubons the birds. 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. A rare copy of audubons birds of america heads to auction. 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. 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 breaks auction book record reuters. The doubleelephant folio first edition of john james audubons birds of america was. Rare john james audubon prints up for auction at arader.

This is an unusually large and brilliantly colored. At bonhams new york on tuesday, june 12, fine books and manuscripts, in 287 lots. 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. Aside from being famous in the rare book world, birds of america has. 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. Sale n10256view print cataloguesothebys is delighted to be offering an early subscribers copy of audubons double elephant folioincomparably the most important and most. At christies, three american animals come facetoface. Founded in 1997, the kff is tightlippedthey have no website and no staff.

Apr 26, 2018 in 2010, a full edition of the birds of america sold for. One of the few privately owned copies of john james audubons richly illustrated birds of america sold for 7. 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. The set going to auction in june was sold in 2012 at christies in. 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. Also covers rare book auctions, manuscripts, ephemera, broadsides, maps, prints, posters, bibliography, first editions, incunabula and catalogs. 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. At the age of six he began with sea shells, and soon graduated to coins, the gateway drug. Rare book the birds of america used for wallpaper at.