Books are not only pages or ink, they are time capsules, they are works of art, and sometimes they are even valuable treasures. Most of us are used to paying $10 for a paperback or downloading an eBook for even cheaper. But there’s a whole world of books worth millions, I’m talking about the most expensive books. What do you think? Are these books merely rare first editions or signed copies? They are antiques and, in some cases, works of art. Let’s look at the top 10 most expensive books ever sold and figure out what makes them so special.
10 Most Expensive Books In The World
So, what makes a book worth millions? It could be its antiquity, historical significance, or the person who owned it. Whatever the reason, these books are more than just reading materials, they are historical records.
1. Codex Leicester by Leonardo da Vinci – $30.8 Million
Year: 1506–1510
Origin: Italy
Significance: A collection of scientific writings and sketches by Leonardo da Vinci, covering topics like water, the moon, and anatomy.
The Codex Leicester is an original manuscript by Leonardo da Vinci and is one of his most recognized works of art. It’s a compendium of scientific writing and sketches on subjects ranging from water and the moon to fossils and anatomy. At auction in 1994, it fetched $30.8 million, one of the costliest books ever sold. The cofounder of the software giant Microsoft, Bill Gates, acquired it and then published it in its electronic version, so the thoughts and discoveries of Leonardo are now open to the public and available to more end users.
2. The Gospels of Henry the Lion – $11.7 Million
Year: 12th century
Origin: Germany
Significance: It is A masterpiece of medieval art commissioned by Duke Henry the Lion.
This is a masterwork of medieval art. The Gospels of Henry the Lion are 12th-century illuminated manuscripts created by Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony. It contains stunning images as well as religious content, making it a unique Middle Ages treasure. It was sold at auction in 1983 for $11.7 million, making it one of the world’s most expensive books. Today, it is housed in Germany’s Herzog August Library, where it is considered a valuable treasure.
3. The Magna Carta (1297 Edition) – $10.4 Million
Year: 1297
Origin: England
Significance: A foundational document in limiting royal power and ensuring basic rights.
The Magna Carta is one of the most expensive books in the world, but still, some Americans never understand its place in history. Though it is little more than 800 years old now, the Magna Carta, whose text from 1215 we give her, reached the market town of Egham in Surrey this week (August 1987). There are several copies of the Magna Carta, but the most important is the 1297 version. In 2007, American multibillionaire Mr David Rubenstein paid $10.4m for a copy of the historical scroll. And colour gravures of the document now appear in the National Archives in Washington, where it is on public display. Nobody who owns a rare original Magna Carta is poor.
4. St. Cuthbert Gospel – $14 Million
Year: 7th century
Origin: Northumbria, England
Significance: One of the oldest surviving European books, a beautifully preserved Latin gospel originally placed in St. Cuthbert’s tomb.
From the 7th century, it is possible that the St. Cuthbert Gospel was already in existence, but no one knows clearly when or where it was written. This beautifully preserved Latin gospel book was placed (“laid to rest “) in the tomb of St. Cuthbert. By the year 698, it had been placed there by an Anglo-Saxon monk of that name. The gospel book remained in his coffin for centuries before it was discovered.
In 1962, he returned to the British Library under the name of Lord Cuthbert Harris, to whom he gave this bedtime story. Normally, I don’t write fiction and here is what happened: The $14 million that British Library paid for said book. This makes this book one of the most expensive books in the world.
5. Bay Psalm Book – $14.2 Million
Year: 1640
Origin: Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Significance: The first book printed in America, a Puritan translation of biblical psalms into English.
The Bay Psalm Book has a special place in history: it is the first book printed in what is now the United States. In 1640, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a group of Puritan settlers wanted a more accurate translation of the Bible’s psalms. Today, the original edition of the book is rare – only 11 copies are known to exist.
In 2013, a 12th became public property, with such a paltry bid as to be hardly worth mentioning. At an auction house in New York, a handwritten copy went under the hammer for $14.2 million (and counting: the hammer price itself is final). The buyer, David Rubenstein- a billionaire- subsequently lent it to libraries and universities so that others might view one of history’s most important works up close.
6. Rothschild Prayer Book – $13.4 Million
Year: Early 16th century (1500–1520)
Origin: Flanders (modern-day Belgium and Netherlands)
Significance: A magnificent illuminated manuscript that contains prayers, biblical texts, and stunning hand-painted miniatures.
It is a lavishly illuminated manuscript from the early 16th century in the Netherlands and from the Renaissance period. A book of hours belongs to the same genre as a type of devotional book used by wealthy and noble families for their individual prayers. The manuscript is famous for its extraordinarily detailed miniatures, painted by leading Flemish artists of the time.
It used to be part of the Rothschild family’s collection until it was confiscated by the Nazis in World War II. Once it was finally returned to the family, they later auctioned it off. No less than $13.4 million was paid for the book in 1999– one of the highest prices ever fetched by a manuscript.
In 2014, it was auctioned off once more and picked up by Australian businessman Kerry Stokes, who later put it on display in the National Library of Australia.
7. The Gospels of Henry the Lion – $11.7 Million
Year: 12th century
Origin: Germany
Significance: One of the finest examples of medieval illuminated manuscripts.
The Gospels of Henry the Lion were commissioned by Duke Henry the Lion of Saxony in 1175. They were prepared for Brunswick Cathedral and are one of the masterpieces of Romanesque art. The manuscript contains fifty full-page miniatures, as well as more than fifteen hundred decorative initials hand-painted with gold and bright colors.
Nearly lost to history, the book reappeared in the 20th century. In 1983, it was auctioned at Sotheby’s and purchased for $11.7 million, which at that time made this the most expensive book ever sold. The German government, recognizing its cultural importance, bought it in order to keep it from being taken out of the country. Today, it is kept in the Herzog August Library in Wolfenbüttel, a town situated near Hannover, Germany.
8. The Birds of America by John James Audubon – $11.5 Million
Year: 1827–1838
Origin: United States
Significance: One of the most famous ornithological (bird) books ever created.
It shows 435 different birds found in North America, each drawn one-for-one- not shrunken a bit. They were drawn by John James Audubon, a naturalist and painter who dedicated years to traveling across the continent in order to record the birds he saw. The book is considered both a masterpiece of scientific study and an important work.
Today there are only about 120 complete copies of The Birds of America, with most residing inside museums and libraries. Because it is so unusual and carries historical weight, multiple times, this book changed hands for world records. In 2010, one such instance took place when a copy sold at Sotheby’s for $11.5 million.
A little-known fact: Another copy sold for $9.65 million in 2018, proving its timeless value among collectors.
9. The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer – $7.5 Million
Year: 1477
Origin: England
Significance: One of the first books ever printed in English.
One of the best known of medieval English works, Geoffrey Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales in the late 14th century. It consists of tales – some fun, some dramatic, some moral – told by a group of travelers destined for Canterbury Cathedral.
This copy is one of the earliest editions printed in 1477 by William Caxton, England’s first printer. Printed editions were extremely rare, as most of the books at that time were written manuscripts. The first edition sold for $7.5 million in 1998, at the time making it the most expensive printed book. Today, copies of Caxton’s Canterbury Tales are rare and extraordinarily valuable.
10. Shakespeare’s First Folio – $9.98 Million
Year: 1623
Origin: England
Significance: The first collected edition of Shakespeare’s plays
Few writers have been as famous in history as William Shakespeare and his First Folio is a literary treasure. Published in 1623, only seven years after Shakespeare’s death, it includes 36 of his plays, among them the works Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello and Romeo and Juliet.
Without this book, it’s possible that 18 of Shakespeare’s plays would have been lost for good since they were never published during his lifetime. The First Folio was assembled by two of Shakespeare’s friends and acting colleagues, John Heminges and Henry Condell, to preserve his works. There are now only about 235 copies known to exist. A rare copy sold for $9.98 million at Christie’s in 2020, setting a record for the most expensive work of literature ever auctioned.
Final Talk: Most Expensive Books
These books are really important part of our history, they are rare, unique and connected with something or someone important. And being this unique makes these books the most expensive books. Interesting fact: You can read all of these free on the internet without paying a penny. Although collecting the real piece and reading a scanned copy is totally different, it is free. So, if you are curious, go check them out on the internet. Hope you enjoyed this and you can also check out The Rise of Ai Generated Books.
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