Rare bird book under hammer

A rare book by America's most famous bird artist, John James Audubon, billed as the most expensive in the world, is going under the hammer in December, in London.

A rare book by America's most famous bird artist, John James Audubon, billed as the most expensive in the world, is going under the hammer in December, in London.

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Birds of America, which is estimated to sell for between 4 million and 6 million pounds ($6.2-$9.2 million), was said by auctioneer Sotheby’s to have inspired generations of ornithologists. When a copy of the book with hand-colored, life-size prints of birds was last sold in 2000 by rival firm Christie’s, it set a world record price for a printed book, fetching $8.8 million.