A copy of John James Audubon's Birds of America was sold at an auction in London for £7.3 million ($11.5 million), and thus became the most expensive book ever sold. The auction was a rare chance to own one of the best-preserved editions of the 19th- century masterpiece, with its 435 hand-colored illustrations. The winning bid was placed by London-based art dealer Michael Tollemache, who outbid three others during the auction. Don't miss the video of the book at the bottom! |
Only 120 complete sets of Audubon's 435 hand-colored, life-sized engravings of America's birds are believed to exist today, with the majority (107) owned by institutions. The last full edition of The Birds of America, which went up for auction in 2010, sold for £7.3m at Sotheby's, breaking the world record for a single book. |
"Birds of America is most significant for its sheer beauty. It's a masterpiece of illustration," the words of Richard Davies, a rare and used books specialist. "Aside from being famous in the rare book world, Birds of America also has immense historical and ornithological importance. Some of the birds John James Audubon painted are extinct, and he also discovered new species." |
Measuring over three feet in height and running to four volumes, The Birds of America was created by Audubon between 1827 and 1838. The illegitimate son of a French sea captain and his creole mistress, Audubon was an itinerant artist who traveled America's wilderness drawing the birds he loved. He was insistent that The Birds of America was made up of life-size illustrations and that it showed all the known species of north America, making the finished volume |
Each of the printed books were colored by hand, and it was an extremely laborious process. Even by today's standards, the vividness of its illustrations of birds is extraordinary but when it was being released in the 1830s it was mindboggling. Audubon employed a rather shocking technique to produce the book. He hunted the birds down and shot them before propping them up on wires to paint. Each drawing would take about 60 hours to complete. Ironically, many of his beautifully rendered subjects are now extinct, such as the Carolina Parakeet, Passenger Pigeon, Labrador Duck, Great Auk, Esquimaux Curlew, and Pinnated Grouse. |
Picking up a copy of the "book" is a two-person job, said the dealer, who examined an edition at Sotheby's once prior to the auction. "The (very nervous) resident expert and I (gingerly) turned the pages together, him at the top and me at the bottom, and peeled them back (respectfully) into just the right conjunction with the rest of the plates," said Gekoski. "You have to be careful how you handle a gargantuan book worth more than 10 million dollars." |
The History of Pearls in Jewelry - a Must Watch!
From Venus to Mary to Marilyn Monroe - iconic women have symbolized and worn pearl jewelry. Watch the fascinating history of the dainty pearl here...
The Incredible Discovery and Restoration of a Lost Fresco
See how a beautiful fresco was discovered by accident under an apartment building in Italy, and how it was amazingly restored
Is This Really How These Famous People Talked?
Mimicking an accent can be difficult. Watch this expert analyze 17 actors who played real-life characters. Did they nail it or not?
Playing With Food In a Creative Way - Fascinating!
This artist uses simple food ingredients like eggs, teabags, and vegetables as a means of self-expression, painting beautiful pictures using these kitchen staples.
15 People Who Have the STRANGEST Hobbies
Some people's hobbies, as it turns out, are stranger than others. Here are 15 bizarre yet cool hobbies keeping people busy
A Satisfying Dose of Domino Blocks Compilation
This domino blocks artist compiled a full year's work into a neatly packed compilation video, and we can't stop replaying it!
Any Animal Lover Will Appreciate These Whimsical Artworks
Artist Roberto Rizzo uses rocks as a canvas for his animal paintings - and the results are incredibly realistic works of art.
You Won't Believe How Much People Paid For These Paintings
There are some paintings in this world that cost so much money, it's enough to make your eyes water. Here are the most expensive paintings ever sold.
These Intricate Designs Turn Wood into Beautiful Art
This talented artist turns salvaged wood into beautiful art pieces.
These Real Seashells Look Like Pieces of Sunken Treasure
This seashell art is unlike anything I've ever seen before... absolutely stunning!
Gaudi: The Iconic Architect That Made Buildings Look Alive
Antoni Gaudi is the most famous Modernist architect. This is a story of his life and creative evolution.
INTERACTIVE: 12 Greatest Hits by Ray Charles
In this interactive post, we celebrate the musical legend Ray Charles with a carefully curated selection of his 12 greatest hits.
It's a Pleasure Watching This Couple Dance This Old Dance
Even if you're not a fan of swing music, you cannot help but admire this talented couple.
8 Nostalgic Dance Moves that Took the World by Storm
Do you remember the Jitterbug of the 20's, or the Twist of the late 50's and early 60's? Looking back at the moves that hit it big back then, made me think back to a time gone by.
A Gorgeous Piece of Music to Uplift Your Spirits
These 2 cellists will take you on a musical journey of a lifetime.
Amazing! These Women Play the Harp Like No Others!
In our opinion, the harp is one of the best instruments to have ever been created. Don’t agree? Well, watch these four harpists and you’ll change your mind!
André Rieu Welcomes Spring With Angelic Music!
A gorgeous musical performance by renowned Dutch musician Andre rieu.
Reviving Classic Legends: Howard Pyle's Timeless Paintings
Let's explore the masterful paintings of Howard Pyle, a celebrated artist and illustrator from the 1800s.
This Old Man Kept His Amazing Voice Secret Until He Was 60
When one unemployed 60-year-old Dutch baker's daughter secretly signed up her father to appear on Holland's Got Talent, no one could guess he would win...
Could You Believe This Art Was Made Out of a Bar of Soap?
Barresi discovered all that he could do with a simple bar of soap.
Impressive! I Can't Believe What This Illusionist Does!
If you love a good magic trick! You'll love this!
Jason Gamrath Makes the Most Extravagant Glass Flowers
These glass flowers by Jason Gamrath are colorful, huge and exquisite. From orchids to fly catchers, these big glass flowers are shown in beautiful photos.
Spectacular! What an Innovative Form of Art This Is
Have you ever seen sculptures, brooches and decorations like this before? Check out this stunning art!
A Gorgeous Cover of a Beautiful Classic...
Watch two incredible artists use voice and cello to bring this classic song to life.
These Vases Are Made of Real Flowers!
We’ve all seen too many vases filled with flowers to count, but have you ever met a vase that doubles as a bouquet?
This 'Flying Dragons' Performance Will Kock Your Socks Off
The most incredibly skilled Chinese acrobat group, the flying dragons, put on a great show!
Colorful Watercolor Paintings Depict Venice Beautifully
Check out these stunning water color paintings of Venice by Maja Wrońska.
Have You Ever Seen Hand-Cut Paper Look So Beautiful?
These hand-cut paper artworks are simply stunning, because of their extraordinary level of detail. They have inspired me to give it a go myself!
Watch 250,000 Dominos Fall in a Record-Winning Video!
The 250,000 dominoes that you are about to see were arranged for long hours in very creative ways, breaking 3 different Guinness World Records at once!
10 Stunning Renaissance Buildings That Survive to This Day
This article will walk you through 10 incredible examples of Renaissance architecture around the world.
This Musical Duet Will Bring Tears to Your Eyes...
This amazing violin and piano cover of Hallelujah is one of the most beautiful things you will ever hear.
12 World-Famous Sculptures Everyone Should Recognize
In this article, we showcase 12 of the most famous and recognized sculptures in the world starting from the oldest to the most recent.
Quiet Night In? Let These Amazing Movies Rack Your Brains
Have you ever watched a movie that leaves you scratching your head right until the very last scene? That's what these 10 amazing movies do best. Enjoy!
This Sublime Classical Performance Will Take You to Heaven
This beautiful video celebrates two wonderful musicians together, one on cello and the other on the violin. Here they play Czardas.
Acrobats on Unicycles? Now I Really Have Seen It All...
These Chinese unicycle acrobats will completely blow you away! Check out their daring performance here.
This Classical Duo's Music Will Touch Your Soul, Guaranteed
Watch the legendary Anre Rieu perform alongside Gheorghe Zamfir, as they treat their audience to Lonely Shepherd, live from Bucharest.
Ever Thought Music and Humor Don't Mix? Think Again!
This performance is a stunning mixture of beauty and humor. Definitely worth a watch!
Gosh, These Artful Sculptures are Quite Brilliant
Discover some of the most creative and innovative street statues from around the world.
The Visionary Art and Turbulent Life of Caravaggio
Caravaggio is one of the most renowned and celebrated painters today, but his life and art have a bigger story to tell than one would expect
This Acrobatic Girl Stunned the World with Her Performance
Emily Moskalenko is probably the most exciting talent in the world of acrobatics. The things this little cutie can do just boggle the mind.
The Story of the Woman Behind Vincent van Gogh
Little is said about the woman behind Vincent van Gogh, but he was not always alone...
Watch These Latin Sister Acrobats Showcase Their Skills!
Take a few minutes to watch the show, you won't regret it!
These 3 Girls Made the Judges Stand Up in Praise!
The performance of these young ladies dancing the Pinga dance is so impressive!
This Unique Cabaret Act Is Guaranteed to Amaze You!
You won't believe this stunning, gravity defying act.
Feeling Nostalgic? These Billy Joel Hits are Just for You
A playlist of 16 of Billy Joel's biggest hits
Look Closer... This Art is Made from Raw Fish
This art is made entirely from raw fish and it's impressive. Take a look: