John James Audubon

(Newser) - A rare first edition of John James Audubon's The Birds of America could fetch anywhere from $7 million to $10 million at auction, Christie's estimates. The auction house will sell the lavishly illustrated four-volume set, featuring more than 400 hand-colored plates, on Jan. 20 in New York. The...

(Newser) - John James Audubon's Birds of America—a rare blend of art, natural history, and craftsmanship—fetched more than $10 million at auction today, making it the world's most expensive published book. With its 435 hand-colored illustrations of birds drawn to size, the volume is one of the best preserved editions...