Rare ‘Birds of America’ book sells for $11.5M, breaks record

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   >> to be the most expensive book in the world will soon go to the highest bidder. it's a rare copy of john james audubon 's birds of america . and as we report, it could fetch millions.

   >> reporter: not the book you leave on the coffee table. the pages in this book are enormous. two feet by three feet. full of birds in water color , painted by the wildlife artist john james audubon 180 years ago. and now this rare book , a four volume set , " birds of america " goes on sale as the world's most expensive books, worth at least $6 million.

   >> it's a kind of statement of americana. it's one of the most important things in that field.

   >> reporter: audubon was a true pioneer in what was then the new world. there were only 26 states then. texas was still part of mexico. audubon would travel for years by horseback and riverboat pursuing his passion for finding and drawing the birds of america .

   >> what was unusual was the ambition of the project. to illustrate every known species of american bird. and by and large, he achieved that.

   >> reporter: without photography back then, a good wildlife artist was also a good hunter.

   >> he actually shot and then drew bar one every single bird in the book.

   >> reporter: sometimes he had specimens sent to him, but caught in the wild.

   >> yes.

   >> reporter: how many illustrations are there?

   >> 435.

   >> reporter: that's a lot of birds to shoot. audubon traveled to britain and was treated like a rock star .

   >> he played up on that. he was an american woodsman. he had language hair. he dressed in buckskin. he was a great hit as soon as he came to britain because he represented the pioneering spirit of america .

   >> reporter: and he showed them a world they didn't know existed. he used copperplates to engrave each of the birds for the book. it took 12 years.

   >> imagine somebody opening this up and they'd never seen a pelican before and they have it in large size in full, glorious color. must be inyesterday ill. it's still incredible now.

   >> reporter: only the very wealthy could afford them. his clients included the king and queen of england. 119 of these books exist. most are in libraries. only 11 in private hands.

   >> for the price you have to pay for this book.

   >> reporter: at the time sh

   >> at the time, and today, as well.

   >> reporter: all eyes will be on the sotheby's auction room on tuesday to see who will pay the price of a mansion for a book. for

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