# $8 Million Books Audubon's 'Birds of America' is the World's Most Expensive Book By Kamal Musharbash | Published 2010-09-09 | Business Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/birds-of-america References: [bornrich.org](http://www.bornrich.org/entry/worlds-most-expensive-book-goes-on-saleagain/) & [sothebys](http://www.sothebys.com/app/live/office/OfficeNonAuction.jsp?office_id=255) An extremely rare 19th century book about birds is up for grabs again at an auction this December at [Sotheby's](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mexicoinspired-whisky) in England. John James Audubon's 'Birds of America' highlights 1,000 illustrations of 500 various species of birds. This will become the second time 'Birds of America' is auctioned. A decade ago, Audubon's book sold for $8.8 million; the majority of the 119 copies are housed in museums. This life-sized illustrated book is internationally known as the world's [most expensive book](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/taschen-and-louis-vuitton). ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.3/10 - Popularity: 30% | Activity: 31% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/business) > [Books](https://www.trendhunter.com/books) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Rare Book Collecting:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop an online platform that connects rare book collectors with sellers, facilitating easier transactions and expanding the market. - **Artificial Intelligence in Auctions:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Utilize AI algorithms to analyze historical auction data and predict future prices, assisting collectors and auction houses in determining the value of rare items. - **Digitization of Rare Books:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create a digital library of rare books, providing access to previously inaccessible texts and democratizing knowledge. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Auction Houses:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Incorporate blockchain technology for transparent and secure auction transactions, boosting trust and enabling global participation. - **Online Marketplaces:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Build a specialized online marketplace for rare books, connecting sellers and buyers worldwide and fostering a vibrant community of collectors. - **Art Conservation Services:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop eco-friendly preservation methods and materials for valuable books, ensuring their longevity while reducing environmental impact. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Pricey Baseball Memorabilia Jerseys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/called-shot.md) - [Historical Humankind Coffee Books](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-book.md) - [AI Bird Identifying Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bird-weather.md) - [Elusive Heron-Finding Tours](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/birding-tour.md) - [Martian Meteorite Collectibles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sothebys-nwa.md) - [Iconic Premium Timepiece Books](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-impossible-collection.md) - [$1000 Bourbon Cocktails](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/worlds-most-expensive-bloody-mary.md) - [Graphic Design Bold Books](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/parks-2.md) - [Extravagant Luxury Bourbons](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/luxury-bourbon.md)