McHuston Booksellers

Rare, Collectible, & Otherwise

Tag: Audubon

Ten Million for Birds.

December 7, 2010 / / 0 Comments

Even non-book-lovers know about the Audubons, although perhaps not the extent of their rarity. I get asked about them in Broken Arrow, OK, as though some customer might drop one off in exchange for a copy of Twilight.

John James Audubon’s “Birds of America,” brought more than $10 million at auction on Tuesday, becoming the world’s most expensive published book.

Featuring 435 hand-colored illustrations of birds drawn to size, the auctioned book is one of the best preserved of those remaining in existence. The sale at Sotheby’s auction house had been anticipated for months, and even non-bidders were given a chance to see the rare volume.

The price? $10,270,000. An anonymous collector bid by telephone in offering the final bid.

Because each picture is so valuable, there have been fears the volume will be broken up and sold as separate works of art. However, experts believe that’s unlikely. The tome is probably more valuable intact. And collectors hold Audubon in such reverence that the notion of ripping apart a perfect copy would be akin to sacrilege.

Pssst…Got any Audubon?

October 5, 2010 / / 0 Comments

I was in the middle of a transaction with a fellow for a sort-of pricey item. He suddenly says, “Do you have any old books on birds?”

A little out of the blue, (so to speak), I thought, but I says in reply, “I may have a couple. Not so old, though.”

“Anything by that guy Audubon?” he asked.

“Oh, you mean the most expensive book in the world,” I wanted to reply. “Yes. Let me think. There may be a couple of those around here somewhere…”

I admit to being disorganized and maybe not being aware of the significance of every book that comes through, but Audubon is beyond the surprise-find category. Not much chance at this point of finding one in someone’s attic.

We do have a rare chance to look at a copy of James John Audubon’s Birds of America, which is estimated to be worth about five-cool-million dollars. Sotheby’s is putting the book on display this fall in Paris, New York, and London before an auction on December 7th.

There are about 100 copies known to exist. A big book, because the author wanted to show the birds life-size. So, check your attics. You may have a couple laying around somewhere, too.

Otherwise, you can pick one up at auction in a few weeks. Bring your checkbook and your holiday gift-buying list.

I’ve been a good boy this year…

Much less expensive, but identifies your tweeters:

Is Your Name Famous?

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