"Birds of America" ​​flew for $ 11, 5 million

book "Birds of America" ​​ornithologist and painter John James Audubon, as expected, was the most expensive printed book in the world. At the auction Sotheby's «Books, manuscripts and drawings" in London rarity edition for $ 11, 5 million bought London dealer Michael Tollemach. In the world there are 119 copies of this massive tome beginning of the XIX century. Of these 108 copies are in museums (3 - in Russia), so in private collections, this book is very rare. A feature of the publication is not only the highest artistic quality, but also the absolute scientific precision: all the birds, including a giant heron, shown in full size. Work on the book lasted for 9 years - from 1827 to 1838. Even in times of Audubon "Birds of America" ​​were insanely expensive edition. The cost of publication was $ 115,640, that in terms of today's money is $ 2 million. The emergence of "Birds of America" ​​in the auction is a one hundred percent guarantee another record. In 1992, at Christie's complete set of "Birds of America" ​​sold for $ 3, 7 million., By 1998 the cost of publications rose to $ 5 million. In 2000, at Sotheby's, it went for $ 8, 8 million. London bookseller Pom Harrington, owner Peter Harrington rare book, believes that "Birds of America" ​​could "break" unless the Gutenberg Bible, a good copy of which is now on the market would be worth $ 30-50 million., but no one sells it.