Audubon Makes $3.5 Million for the Indiana Historical Society

Yesterday at Sotheby's New York, a copy of John James Audubon's famous double-elephant folio of The Birds of America reached $3,525,000. The Indiana Historical Society consigned the copy in hopes of gaining at least $3 million from its sale, which will be used to fund "acquisition of more Indiana-specific collections, and to build out enough archival storage space ... to meet the organization's needs for active collecting over the next 30 years." In addition, IHS's second consignment, Audubon's Viviparous Quadrupeds of America, also met its goal price, fetching $245,000. IHS President and CEO John Herbst commented prior to the sale, "While these sets are rare and valuable, they were acquired when the Indiana Historical Society's mission was broader, more eclectic and not as focused on Indiana-related history as it is today."

Rare Book Week starts with a bang!

Image: Audubon's Great Cinerous Owl via Sotheby's.