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AbeBooks' most expensive sales of all time

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The most expensive sale in AbeBooks' history occurred in February 2015 when a rare ornithology book from 1765 sold for $191,000. The sale took online bookselling into six figures for the first time.

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.

The previous most expensive items to sell through the AbeBooks marketplace were a 1937 first edition of The Hobbit and a 1644 copy of Areopagitica, John Milton's defense of press freedom, which sold for $65,000 each in 2003.

A Natural History of Birds

"We're thrilled to have sold such a valuable book for one of our booksellers," said Richard Davies, merchandising manager at AbeBooks. "We have been expecting a sale of this magnitude for some time. In 2013 we sold a book worth $60,000 and last year we had two sales of books priced over $40,000. A small number of people are comfortable spending large amounts of money online."

The book's artwork was drawn and etched by Violante Vanni and Lorenzo Lorenzi, while the text was penned by Saverio Manetti - an Italian physician, ornithologist, and director of the botanical garden in Florence from 1749 to 1782. The artwork was created using dead specimens from an Italian nobleman's ornithology collection as models, and the birds are displayed in rather dramatic, eye-catching poses. Some consider the book to be a commentary on 18th-century Italian high society because the bird poses are almost human.

AbeBooks' 10 Most Expensive Sales of All Time

Storia naturale degli uccelli trattata con metodo e adornata di figure intagliate in rame e miniate al naturale. Ornithologia methodice digesta atque iconibus aeneis ad vivum illuminatis by Violante Vanni, Lorenzo Lorenzi & Saverio Manetti- $191,000

Translates as a 'Natural History of Birds Treated Systematically and Adorned with Copperplate Engraving Illustrations, in Miniature and Life-Size.' Five volumes containing more than 600 hand-colored engraved plates of birds from around the world. Published in 1765.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling - $85,620

A true first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone published by Bloomsbury in June 1997. Only 500 copies were printed, with 200 being used for promotional purposes and 300 copies provided to libraries. This copy was originally owned by Edinburgh Public Library. Edinburgh is Rowling’s hometown. She wrote this novel while sitting in various cafes around the Scottish city.

The book’s library card shows it was borrowed 27 times between 15 December 1997 until 12 October 1999 before being withdrawn from service. Those 27 readers were among the first people to experience the magic of Hogwarts.

The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien - $65,000

The Hobbit first edition
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Published in September 1937, this first edition, first printing is in its original dust jacket. Only 1,500 copies of the first edition were printed, and they were sold out by mid-December of 1937.

Areopagitica: A Speech for the Liberty of Unlicenc'd Printing To the Parliament of England by John Milton - $65,000

Published in 1644, this pamphlet by the author of the epic poem Paradise Lost defended the freedom of the Press as the British government suppressed their opponents' publications.

Der Naturforscher by J.E.I Walsh & J.D. Schreber - $60,321

Bound in 13 volumes and published between 1774 and 1804, this work deals with entomology, palaeozoology, mineralogy and geology, zoology and botany. Contains 143 folded engravings.

Utopia De optimo reip. statu, deque nova insula by Sir Thomas More - $60,000

More became a Catholic martyr when Henry VIII beheaded him. This 1518 fourth edition outlines his ideal state, and pleads for religious tolerance and universal education.

Poems with elegies on the author's death by John Donne - $60,000

Little written by Donne appeared in print in his lifetime but hundreds of manuscript copies were circulated by hand. This 1633 first edition was the first collection of his poems.

Historical, Military, and Picturesque Observations on Portugal by Lt.-Col George Thomas Landmann - $57,500

This 1818 first edition is described as "the most beautiful illustrated English book on Portugal of the period." Landmann fought in the Peninsular War, and his book details sieges and battles.

Das Kapital by Karl Marx - $51,739

First edition in three volumes, published in 1867, 1885 and 1894 - one of the most influential economic and political works of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Cook’s Voyages by John Hawkesworth - $50,000

A rare first edition set of the official accounts of Captain James Cook's three voyages published in nine volumes in 1773, 1777 and 1784 respectively. These books were 18th century bestsellers with readers eager to learn about the other side of the world.

Cook’s first voyage is covered by three volumes and describes his journey to the Southern Hemisphere. His second voyage, towards the South Pole, is described in two volumes. His third voyage, to the Pacific Ocean including the western coastline of America and Canada, is detailed in four volumes. These books gave Europeans a greater awareness of world geography, while his maps and charting of coastlines laid the foundation for modern maritime routes.

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