Video: Rare Birds of America album sold for $ 9.7 million
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
At the auction house Christie's, which took place in New York on June 14, a book was sold called "Birds of America." This rare edition, which was created in the 19th century by naturalist John James Audubon, consists of four volumes. These unique books were paid $ 9.65 million.
The album was released in parts during the period 1827-1838. It includes images of birds that live in North America. The peculiarity of the album is that the birds are depicted in full size. At a preliminary estimate, experts named the sale amount at 8-12 million. The high price of the book is explained by the fact that it is a rare edition. In total, there are 119 complete such publications in the world, of which 13 are currently in private collections.
"Birds of America", which were recently sold at auction, turned out to be the best preserved. Initially, the album belonged to the family of the Dukes of Portland, and over the entire period of its existence has changed a considerable number of owners. In 2012, for $ 7.9 million, this album of birds was acquired by Karl Knobloch, a researcher and entrepreneur. In 2016, he died, and the book remained in his family.
The books "Birds of America" have been exhibited at the world auction 25 times in the last 40 years. Some of these books are already missing pages. A complete set with all the images becomes more expensive over time, if in 1992 they paid $ 3, 7 million for it, then in 2000 the price increased to $ 8, 8 million. In 2010, Mike Tollemash, a collector and dealer, paid $ 11.5 million for the complete set of these books. The books were included in the collection of Lord Hesketh. After this auction, the books "Birds of America" were able to enter the ten most expensive in the world, taking seventh place in it.
The first place in the ranking is occupied by the Code of Leicester, a notebook in which Leonardo da Vinci himself made notes in 1506-1510. It was purchased for $ 30.8 million by Bill Gates in 1994. The second place in the ranking is taken by the Magna Carta, drawn up in 1212. The copy, which bears the stamp of Edward III, was sold for $ 21 million. For 14, 2 million dollars in 2013 they sold the Massachusetts Book of Psalms, which took third place in the lists of the most expensive books. The top ten most expensive books in the world are closed by a printed book in 1623 with the title "First folio: comedies, chronicles and tragedies." These are plays by William Shakespeare. It was sold in 2006 for $ 5.2 million.
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