John James Audubon (1785–1851). The Birds of America. London: 1827–1838. Estimate: $8,000,000-12,000,000. To be offered on 14 June 2018, at Christie’s New York.
The Portland Audubon is the finest copy in private hands of an American masterpiece. Audubon’s Birds of America is the most remarkable book of natural history ever produced, known globally for its extraordinary size, artistry, and ambition. It is a towering monument to Audubon’s decades-long dedication to this all-consuming project, and to his groundbreaking vision: Audubon is unprecedented in balancing artistry with scientific rigor to breathe life into his subjects. This superb copy was finely bound near the time of publication, and remained undisturbed for more than 150 years in the collection of the Dukes of Portland at Welbeck Abbey. The Portland Audubon will be auctioned at Christie’s at 2pm on 14 June 2018.