World's Most Expensive Printed Book up for Auction

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Valuable books, manuscripts and drawings will be available for collectors this week. The world's most expensive printed book, Audubon's 'Birds of America', and Shakespeare's 'First Folio' go up for auction at Sotheby's in London

The world's most expensive printed book, Audubon's 'Birds of America', and Shakespeare's 'First Folio' go up for auction on Tuesday at Sotheby's in London.

These important, but very different, literary works are part of the 'Magnificent Books, Manuscripts and Drawings from the Collection of Frederick, 2nd Lord Hesketh.

The sale offers a selection of books, manuscripts and drawings.

The collection spans the printed books of England's first printer, William Caxton. It goes through to the most important book in English Literature, Shakespeare's 'First Folio' to the landmark of natural history, 'Birds of America', by renowned naturalist and painter, John James Audubon.

Director and Senior Specialist in Sotheby's Books and Manuscripts Department, David Goldthorpe, says both works are of significant cultural importance.

[David Goldthorpe, Director, Sotheby's Books and Manuscripts]:
"Half of his plays are printed in it for the first time, so without it, perhaps, we would have lost things like 'The Tempest', Antony and Cleopatra', 'Macbeth' and so on. Audubon's 'Birds of America' is one of the most important illustrated books that's ever been produced. It's one of biggest books ever produced, and one of the most spectacular."

Goldthorpe says it is very rare to have both in the same collection.

[David Goldthorpe, Director, Sotheby's Books and Manuscripts]:




"Shakespeare is valued at a million pounds, to a million and a half, and the Audubon [at] four million pounds to six million pounds. So, from our point of view, it's a highly valuable sale with great items in it, of beautiful items and of cultural significance."

Part of the collection on sale is a relatively unknown series of over 40 letters relating to the imprisonment of Mary Queen of Scots, including four letters signed by Queen Elizabeth I.

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[cyno3ure1]

Everytime I see anything to do with is book, I find it hard to believe that an object such as this could actually be produced. It will never, probably, be surpassed as a bibliographical work of art.

[kisskick12]

Will it blend

[essdotverma007]

WOW & I am not talking about the art. I love London! Keep up the great work.

[longstar56]

8==D