'Most expensive' book to be auctioned

LONDON, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- A rare copy of John James Audubon's "Birds of America," called the world's most expensive book, is to be auctioned in London, officials say.

The December auction of the 19th-century book, one of 119 copies known to exist, will be conducted by Sotheby's, the BBC reported Friday.

An edition of the wildlife book sold for $8.8 million 10 years ago.

The book to be auctioned, containing 1,000 life-sized illustrations of almost 500 bird species, comes from the private collection of the late Lord Hesketh, Sotheby's said.

A rare copy of Shakespeare's First Folio, which Sotheby's said is "the most important book in all of English literature," is also being auctioned from the Hesketh collection, along with letters written from Elizabeth I relating to Mary Queen of Scots.

"To have all these items in one sale is remarkable; it's certainly never happened in my time, 15 years, and people who've been here longer can't recall it," said David Goldthorpe, a senior specialist in Sotheby's books and manuscripts department in London.