How much is the Birds of America book worth?
Rare Audubon ‘Birds of America’ sells for $9.6 million in New York. (Reuters) – A first edition of John James Audubon’s “The Birds of America,” one of the most celebrated books of natural history, sold for $9.65 million at auction in New York on Thursday, Christie’s said.
How many copies of Audubon’s Birds of America are there?
There are only 119 complete copies in existence, and most of them are in libraries and museums (the Smithsonian Institution owns several).
How much is Audubon book worth?
It’s a high-flying success story: A self-taught artist and immigrant defies the odds to create what is now one of the most prized illustrated books in the world, worth an estimated $8 million to $12 million. Ornithologist John James Audubon labored over his life’s masterwork, “The Birds of America,” from 1827 to 1838.
Why is Birds of America so expensive?
Audubon was considered part naturalist and part artist, possessing an unparalleled knack in observing, cataloging and painting birds. And the crazy price tag, according to those experts, has been paid not only because of the book’s beauty but due to its scientific value.
What are Audubon paintings worth?
A good number of the 150 different original Audubon Imperial Folio prints sell for between $500.00 and $1,000.00, but a few prints sell for over $30,000.00 each. There are few inexpensive off-sized reproductions of these prints.
Where is the original Birds of America?
The Birds of America is on permanent display in Trinity College, Connecticut’s Watkinson Library, and was owned by the engraver, Robert Havell.
How much did a copy of Birds of America sell for?
In March 2000, Sheikh Saud Al-Thani of Qatar purchased a copy of The Birds of America at a Christie’s auction for $8.8 million, a record for any book at auction.
How much are original Audubon paintings worth?
What is the most expensive book ever sold?
Codex Leicester
Leonardo da Vinci’s “Codex Leicester,” also known as the “Codex Hammer,” is the most expensive book ever sold. The 72-page linen manuscript includes Leonardo’s thoughts, theories and observations of the world, like the movement of water, fossils and the luminosity of the moon.
What is the rarest bird in America?
Rarest Birds in North American
- California Condor.
- Inyo California Towhee.
- Ivory-billed Woodpecker.
- Kirtland’s Warbler.
- Light-footed Clapper Rail. Rallus longirostris levipes.
- Mississippi Sandhill Crane. Grus canadensis pulla.
- San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike. Lanius ludovicianus mearnsi.
- Whooping Crane. Grus americana.
When did Audubon write the birds of America?
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. It was first published as a series in sections between 1827 and 1838, in Edinburgh and London.
How many birds are in the Audubon collection?
Printed between 1827 and 1838, it contains 435 life-size watercolors of North American birds (Havell edition), all reproduced from hand-engraved plates, and is considered to be the archetype of wildlife illustration. Nearly 200 years later, the Audubon prints are coming to life once again, thanks to our vibrant digital library.
How much is John James Audubon’s Birds of America worth?
Illustration: John James Audubon The four-volume masterpiece could raise $8-12 million, potentially setting a record value for John James Audubon’s crowning achievement. Update: When the gavel finally declared the bidding over, this copy of The Birds of America was officially sold for $9.65 million.
Where can I find John James Audubon’s watercolors?
All of Audubon’s and Mason’s known extant watercolors preparatory for Birds of America are housed at the New-York Historical Society in New York City. The Stark Museum of Art in Orange, Texas, owns and exhibits John James Audubon’s personal copy of Birds of America.