Its a pity your book was plants not birds

This one has just sold for £7.3M

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1336481/John-James-Audubons-Birds-America-sells-7m.html

On the TV the buyer pointed out it was worth far more as plates but he would not consider breaking it.

I'm not sure I would think the same, especially as the author/painter thought nothing of killing the birds so they would stay still long enough to be painted.