Natural History Wanderings

From ABEBooks.com

(February 2015) Online book shopping has entered the six-figure era after AbeBooks sold a rare ornithology book from 1765 for $191,000, smashing the record for the most expensive item to sell on the Internet marketplace in its 19-year history.

The book’s lengthy Italian title can be translated and shortened to A Natural History of Birds. Published in Florence in Italian in five volumes, it contains 600 beautiful hand-colored engraved plates of birds. Commissioned by Maria Luisa, the Grand Duchess of Tuscany, the book took 10 years to complete. This copy’s fine condition enhanced its value along with the fact that it is a scarce book – only 10 complete copies have been offered at auction in the past 40 years.

Read full story at Rare Ornithology Book Sells Online for $191,000