The Most Expensive Books in the World: Rothschild Prayerbook, Magna Carta and Codex Leicester

Have you ever wondered which are the most expensive books in the world? How much can a volume cost? Even though the world of print feels threatened now with all the ebooks and movies out there, we truly believe a book will never fade its value. Reading has always been the pleasure of human kind and knowledge gives you power. Some copies though are more valuable than others due to their history and meaning. We did some research and we wrote down some of world’s most expensive books.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – $90,000

No wonder the first edition of the book “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” sold last year for the price of $90,000. Even if it had typos, the selling price was higher than the estimated value (around $80,000). The rare copy was published in 1998 and there were only 500 of them. This particular book illustrates on its back cover a wizard who never appears in any of the Harry Potter books. Although $90,000 is a large amount for a book, we have others that cost even more.

The Gutenberg Bible, New York Public Library

The Gutenberg Bible – $5,4 Million (1987)

A copy of The Gutenberg Bible sold for $5,4 million in 1987, but, as you can assume, its value increased over the years and it is believed to be worth $12 million today. There are only 31 copies in good condition, out of 180 original books. The Gutenberg Bible, also known as the 42-line Bible, the Mazarin Bible or B42, started the so-called “Gutenberg Revolution”, the age of printed books in the West. B42 was among the first books printed using mass-produced movable metal type and it is one of the most valuable publications of all times. First copy was printed in 1455, a time when writers would just write the Bible by hand. Why is called like this? The name comes from its printer and publisher: Johannes Gutenberg.

First Folio
First Folio by William Shakespeare, Victoria and Albert Museum

First Folio – William Shakespeare – $6 Million

First Folio is a collection of Shakespeare’s plays. Out of 750 original copies, only 228 remain today and they are very sought-after by book collectors all over the world. One of the volumes is owned by Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, who paid for a copy the incredible price of $5,6 million in 2001. Another copy sold for $6,1 million, in the same year. This year, a collection of a 1623 First Folio was presented at a Christie’s auction, for the staggering price of $6 million. 

The Canterbury Tales – $7,5 Million

The famous book by Geoffrey Chaucer sold for $7,5 million, in 1998, at an auction. Today, its value is around $11,7 million. The edition dates back from 1477 and there are only 12 left in the world. 

Magna Carta
Magna Carta exposed at Parliament House, Canberra, Australia

Magna Carta – $20,1 Million (2001)

Magna Carta Libertatum or “Great Charter of Freedoms” is a royal charter of rights drafted by Archbishop of Canterbury, Stephen Langton. It was agreed to by King John. of England, on 15th of June, 1215. There are only 17 known copies out there and 15 of them are all in England. A copy was sold for the price of $20,1 million, in 2001. 

Rothschild Prayerbook
Rothschild Prayerbook

Rothschild Prayerbook – $13,6 Million (2014)

The Rothschild Prayerbook is a Flemish illuminated manuscript book with prayers and psalms, that dates back from the 16th century. The Rothschild family acquired the book around the year 1868. In 1999, one copy was sold at an auction for $13,38 million, then it sold again in 2014 for $13,6 million. The owner would be the Australian billionaire Kerry Stokes. 

 

The Book of Mormon – $35 Millions

The manuscript of the Book of Mormon sold for $35 million in 2017. It was bought by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This copy was written in 1830 and it is believed to be the very one that Joseph Smithm, founder of Mormonism, dictated to his scribes. 

Source: Youtube / Bill Gates

Codex Leicester by Leonardo da Vinci – $30,8 Million (1994)

Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex Leicester is a unique and very valuable volume and it is also the most expensive book ever sold. It was written in 1510, it has 72 pages and there you can find the great painter’s thoughts, theories and observations of the world. Bill Gates bought it in 1994 for the whooping price of $30,8 million (he wasn’t the richest man back then). He did scan some of the pages and and released some images for Windows 98 Plus. 

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