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" Following weeks of preservation work, Temple Newsam House, the Tudor-Jacobean mansion complete with a working rare breed farm, has reopened to the public.\u00A0 Its rich collection of art includes some of the world&amp;#039;s most valuable wallpaper. Lady Isabella Hertford, mistress to the Prince Regent, sought to brighten up her 1820&amp;#039;s drawing room by snipping the pages of John James Audubon&amp;#039;s rare first volume edition, The Birds of America.  There are just 119 known copies of the book, one of which sold for a record price of \u00A37m in 2010.   Cut and paste \u00A0 At a glance you&amp;#039;d be forgiven for thinking that this ornate display is just plain good decorating, but at closer inspection it tells the extraordinary tale of what is now said to be the world&amp;#039;s most expensive book.  Upon receiving a gifted roll of wallpaper from the then Prince of Wales, Lady Hertford decided her dwellings needed to be more lively and so flicked through the pages of the 19th century book pasting 28 sketches onto her walls and making a decorating decision that would last over 200 years.\u00A0 While it proved an unwittingly expensive move, the Lady Isabella is to be commended for her vision that created a portal to the natural world and an exotic spectacle to be enjoyed for years to come. \u00A0 435 hand-painted illustrations of exotic birds now adorn the walls in the Chinese Drawing Room.  See for yourself The 17th century house is now open to visitors following restoration at the hands of new curator, Rachel Conroy. Uncover the secrets of the past residents and workers of the estate before taking a brisk winter walk through the farm. Don&amp;#039;t miss the newborn piglets.  Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:30am to 5pm.  For more information visit: www.leeds.gov.uk By Hannah Wilkinson "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.countryliving.co.uk/homes-interiors/interiors/news/a485/worlds-most-expensive-wallpaper/>