Message:

[

Previous   Next

]

By Topic:

[

Previous   Next

]

Subject:

$10,270,000 for Audubon's double elephant folio (off topic)

From:

Harry Armistead

Reply-To:

Harry Armistead

Date:

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 18:03:40 +0000

Off topic but astounding: In London the original double elephant folio by Audubon, Birds of America, sold at auction at Sotheby's on December 7 for $10,270,000, the world's most expensive published book, to an "anonymous collector bidding by telephone."  It consists of 435 hand-colored illustrations.  There are c. 120 sets still extant.  Some others have been disassembled by notorious dealers who have sold the individual prints separately.  The last complete edition went for $8,800,000 ten years ago.  It measures c. 2 X 3 feet.  Described as " ... one of the most visually stunning books in the history of print."  An unbound set in poor condition sold for $5,600,000 in 2005 at Christie's.  This information all from the Philadelphia Inquirer, Wed., Dec. 8, 2010, p. A7.  Best to all. - Harry Armistead, Philadelphia.