Have a look at the list of top 20 most expensive books and the greatest known costs paid for these books documents and manuscripts. The very first sale given in list is of 1983. Many of the books were initially printed amongst 1600 and 1850. The greatest standard book in the list is the book “The Birds of America” by John J. Audubon. Nevertheless, each of these books is the most expensive book and could possibly make many people wealthy and more frequently than we consider.
1). CODEX LEICESTER:
PRICE: $30,802,500 million
Codex Leicester is often referred to as Codex Hammer and is the most expensive book out there. These scientific writings are written by the Leonard da Vinci. The beginning part of this book term Codex is given the name following Thomas Coke and subsequently written Earl of Leicester, who bought this book in the year 1719. This book is the most known of Leonardo’s 30 scientific journals. This codex includes 72 pages. On 11 November 1994 this book was sold to Bill Gates Christie’s auction. The cost of this unique and original book is $30,802,500. The book is written in Italian utilizing mirror-writing and sustained by diagrams and drawings. This book gives knowledge for a learning mind of Renaissance artisan, creative thinker plus scientist and gives a fantastic representation of the connection between science and art as well as the versatility of scientific process.
Codex Leicester UK and Codex Leicester US.
2). MAGNA CARTA (EXEMPLAR):
PRICE: $21,300,000 million
The book was also known as Magna Carta Libertatum in Latin its meaning is “the Great Charter of the Liberties”. The writer of this book is John, The King of London, Stephen Langton and his barons. The excellent copy of this book Magna Carta 1297 was purchased by the David Rubenstein for an amount of $21,300,000 at the Sotheby’s New York making it the most expensive book.
The cheaper copies of this book Magna Carta are,
Magna Carta UK and Magna Carta US.
3). ST CUTHBERT OR STONYHURST GOSPEL:
PRICE: $14, 300, 00 million
This book is scripted in Latin and it’s an earlier 8th century pocket Gospel book. It’s the primary instance of bookbinding. It embellished using leather binding, and it’s one of earliest Western bookbinding and existing in the greatest essential state for a book of this era. The name of this book had taken by the Lindisfarne’s Saint Cuthbert, North-east England, the book was present in his tomb for a couple of years following his death in the year 1687. This smallest surviving manuscript of Anglo-Saxon was purchased in April 2012 by the British Library for an amount of $14, 300, 00 following a profitable fund-raising campaign.
The less expensive copies of this Gospel book are,
St Cuthbert Gospel UK and St Cuthbert Gospel US.
4). BAY PSALM BOOK:
PRICE: $14,165,000 million
This Bay Psalm Book is a vital part of the history. It was the 1st book written in Colonies and printed in British North America. The book was released as a consequence of discontentment because of the 2 Psalter translations which were offered to earlier people of Massachusetts Bay colony. In 1640, the 1st edition of this book was released in Cambridge. The finest remaining copy of this book exists this time in the US and was sold for $14,165,000 in New York at an auction.The Congregationalist Puritans who immigrated to Massachusetts Bay searching for religious liberty translated and created a variation of this Book of Psalms. It was the most expensive book of all time sold at one time to David Rubenstein for an amount of $14,200,000.
The less expensive copies of this book are,
Bay Psalm US and Bay Psalm UK.
5). ROTHSCHILD PRAYER BOOK:
PRICE: $13,600,000 million
The Rothschild Prayerbook or also known as Rothschild Hours is a popular Flemish illuminated manuscript book which was accumulated by a team of artists compiled in the years amongst 1500 to 1520. The book consists of 254 folios and the size of the page that it has is of 228 × 160 mm. The price of this book is $13,600,000 making it the valuable and most expensive book. For an illuminated manuscript this is a record price. Australian Kerry Stokes purchases this book at an auction by Christie’s New York when it was on exhibit in the Australia’s National liberty. Hard kind of this exclusive manuscript also found in 2 inexpensive copies and these are,
Rothschild Canticles US and Rothschild Canticles UK.
6). GOSPELS OF HENRY THE LION:
PRICE: $11,700,000 million
This book was created and commission for Saxony’s Duke for the ceremony of the Virgin Mary inside the church of the St. Blaise’s Abbey at the Brunswick Cathedral. This edition is the work of art of Romanesque book late in the 12th century. In December 1983, this valuable book was sold at auction to German Government for $11,700,000. It was the most expensive book and exceptional as well in the world around 1994 at the time Bill Gates purchased the Codex. The gospel book, maintained totally undamaged and for security purposes is exhibited only one time every 2 years.
The less expensive copies of this book are
Gospels of Henry the Lion US and Gospels of Henry the Lion UK.
7). THE BIRDS OF AMERICA:
PRICE: $11,500,000 million
It was 1st publicized between the years 1827 and 1838 in London and Edinburg. This book discusses the different bird life of America, authored by naturalist and painter John James Audubon. In December 2010, this book was put on sale and sold at Sotheby’s London for an amount of $11,500,000 along with 2 more books ‘Lord Hesketh’ and Drawings and Manuscripts from the Variety of Frederick at the impressive sale. 2 additional versions of this book were marketed for $7.2 million and $8.8 million.
The less expensive copies of this book are,
The Birds of America US and The Birds of America UK.
8). CANTERBURY TALES:
PRICE: $7,500,000 million
Canterbury Tales is from 15th century and the 1st version was sold at an auction for $7,500,000 in July 1998 this is the highest price and because of this, the book is considered as the most expensive book out there. The book is written by Geoffery Chaucer. It is a series of 24 stories that extends more than 17000 lines.Geoffrey Chaucer wrote this book in Middle English and fetched 7 times its estimation. William Caxton published a number of copies of its 1477 1st version which even now is out there. The 2 additional copies of this book are,
The Canterbury Tales US and The Canterbury Tales UK.
9). SHAKESPEARES COMEDIES, HISTORIES, & TRAGEDIES:
PRICE: $6,100,000 million
The book was at 1st printed in the year 1623 following the loss of William Shakespeares. It included 36 plays, and this book was accumulated by his fellow workers Henry Condell and John Heminges. The worth of the book is $6,100,000 and was sold to Paul Allen the co-founder of Microsoft in 2001 at Christie’s. It is referred to as “The First Folio.” It’s by far the most effective origin for the writing of around 20 plays, and a single copy could be worthy of £4 to 5 million. There are 220 copies of this book and just 40 of them are complete.
The cheaper copies of this book are,
The First Folio UK and The First Folio US.
10). GUTENBERG BIBLE:
PRICE: $4,900,000million
Also referred to as the 42-line Bible, B42 or Mazarin Bible. Johannes Gutenberg initially printed this book in Mainz in 1455 utilizing standardized movable form in the western world. The worth of this book is $4,900,000. The book was purchased by the Japanese Book Dealers Maruzen Co at Christie’s and is in recent times found in Germany. It is the most expensive book in the world. It was printed in Latin, The Catholic Gutenberg Bible is a version of the Vulgate. The 2nd edition named as 36-line Bible, however, it’s the work of some other printer.
It’s existing as,
Gutenberg Bible UK and Gutenberg Bible US.
