7 Most Expensive Books Ever Sold

Sep 19, 2023, 09:37 IST

Tanisha Rajput

7. Birds of America

The book is written by American ornithologist, naturalist and painter John James Audubon. It contains a wide collection of paintings of birds from the US, including some which are extinct now. A dealer in London bought the book for $12.6 million.

6. The Rothschild Prayerbook

An important Flemish illuminated manuscript book of hours, it was made by several artists around the year 1500. An Australian businessman Kerry Stokes bought the book for $13.9 million. Today, the book is on display at the National Library of Australia.

5. Bay Psalm Book

The first book printed in British America is from 1640. This is one of the only eleven known surviving copies of this book. A copy was purchased by Rubenstein at an auction in 2013 for $14.5 million.

4. St Cuthbert Gospel

The first book printed in British America is from 1640. This is one of the only eleven known surviving copies of this book. A copy was purchased by Rubenstein at an auction in 2013 for $14.5 million.

3. Magna Carta Libertatum

This is one of the most important books in the political history of the UK. It was sold in 2007 to billionaire Ross Perot for a whopping $24.5 million.

2. The Gospels of Henry the Lion

Dating back to the 12th century, The Gospels of Henry the Lion contains texts of four gospels. In 1983, the German government purchased the book at an auction for $28 million.

1.  Codex Leicester Leonardo Da Vinci

The book was published in 1510. It contains some of the scientific writings of the Italian Renaissance master Leonardo Da Vinci. Billionaire Bill Gates purchased the book in 1994 for $49.4 million, making it the most expensive book ever sold.

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