Rare ‘Birds of America’ Fetches $5.6 Million

A rare complete edition of John James Audubon’s “The Birds of America” was auctioned in New York for $5.6 million, ending three years of legal wrangling over a decision by a financially strapped Providence, R.I., library to dispose of its most valuable holding.

The 1838 edition of ornithologist Audubon’s most famous work went to a person bidding by telephone, said Benedetta Roux, spokeswoman for Christie’s auction house. She did not identify the bidder.