List of most expensive books and manuscripts

This is a list of printed books, manuscripts, letters, music scores, comic books, maps and other documents which have sold for more than US$1 million. The dates of composition of the books range from the 7th-century Quran leaf palimpsest and the early 8th century St Cuthbert Gospel, to a 21st-century holograph manuscript of J. K. Rowling's The Tales of Beedle the Bard. The earliest printed book in the list is a Southern Song annotated woodblock edition of the Book of Tang printed c. 1234. The first book to achieve a sale price of greater than $1 million was a copy of the Gutenberg Bible which sold for $2.4 million in 1978.

Eight copies of Audubon's The Birds of America have sold for more than $1 million.

The book that has sold most copies over $1 million is John James Audubon's The Birds of America (1827–1838), which is represented by eight different copies in this list. Other books featured multiple times on the list are the Gutenberg Bible, the first folio of Shakespeare's plays and The North American Indian with four separate copies each, three copies of De revolutionibus orbium coelestium, three separate broadside printings of the United States Declaration of Independence, two printings each of the Emancipation proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, two illustrated folios from the Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp, two copies of the Principia Mathematica, Hortus Eystettensis, Geographia Cosmographia and William Caxton's English translation of Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye have also been repeatedly sold. Abraham Lincoln is the most featured author, with three separate works, while Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Martin Waldseemüller, George Washington, André Breton and Robert Schumann have two separate works each.

Table of book sales

Price (US$ millions)		Title and description	Author	Year	Date of sale	Image	Refs
Inflation Adjusted	Original
$36.5	$35.00	Book of Mormon Printer's manuscript. Copy of original manuscript produced by Oliver Cowdery. Originally owned by David Whitmer. Purchased by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.	Joseph Smith	1830	September 2017		[1]
$33.8	$31.73	Letter from Zeng Gong to his friend (júshì tiè 局事帖) Believed to be the only surviving work by the Song dynasty scholar; written on the back of a sheet of paper used for woodblock printing. Originally owned by Xiang Yuanbian (1525–1590). Purchased by Wang Zhongjun.	Zeng Gong	c. 1080	May 2016		[2][3]
$53.1	$30.80	Codex Leicester Notebook comprising a collection of scientific writings by Leonardo da Vinci, in his own hand. Previously owned by Giuseppe Ghezzi, Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester and Armand Hammer. Purchased by Bill Gates.	Leonardo da Vinci	1500s	November 1994		[4]
$26.3	$21.32	Magna Carta 1297 exemplification of the 1216 charter, held by the Brudenell family and later the Perot Foundation. Purchased by David Rubenstein.	–	1297	December 2007		[5][6]
$30.6	$21.21	Sherborne Missal Illuminated missal in use at Sherborne Abbey. Chiefly illuminated by John Siferwas. Previously owned by Ralph Percy, 12th Duke of Northumberland. Purchased by the British Library.	–	Early 15th century	June 2001		[7]
$17.4	$17.06	Shíbì jīngshè yīnzhù Tángshū xiángjiē 石壁精舍音註唐書詳節 "Book of Tang in detailed sections with glosses by 'Stone Wall Studio'". Copy previously owned by Cao Kun (1862–1938).	Ouyang Xiu (comp.) Chén Jiàn 陳鑒 (ed.)	c. 1230s	June 2018		[8][9]
$16	$14.34	St Cuthbert Gospel Pocket gospel book that was buried with Saint Cuthbert (d. 687), removed from his coffin in 1104 and kept at Durham Cathedral. Subsequently owned by Thomas Allen and the English Jesuit College. Purchased by the British Library.	–	c.710–730	April 2012		[10][11]
$15.6	$14.20	Bay Psalm Book First book printed in what is now the United States. Originally owned by the Old South Church. Purchased by David Rubenstein.	–	1640	November 2013		[12][13]
$14.7	$13.60	Rothschild Prayerbook An illuminated book of hours originally owned by Anselm Salomon von Rothschild (1803–1874) and his descendants. Purchased by Kerry Stokes.	–	c. 1505–1510	January 2014		[14]
$13.8	$12.15	Illustrated folio from the Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp From the illustrated manuscript of Ferdowsi's epic poem presented by Tahmasp to Selim II. Illustration attributed to Aqa Mirak. Previously owned by Edmond de Rotschild and Arthur A. Houghton Jr.	Ferdowsi	c.1525–1535	April 2011		[15]
$30	$11.70	Gospels of Henry the Lion Illuminated gospel book commissioned by Henry the Lion (1129/1131–1195) for use in Brunswick Cathedral. Purchased by the German government with support from private donors. Now held at the Herzog August Bibliothek.	Order of Saint Benedict	1175	December 1983		[16]
$13.6	$11.57	The Birds of America One of 119 complete copies known to exist. Copy originally owned by Henry Witham (1779–1844). Purchased by London art dealer, Michael Tollemache.	John James Audubon	1827–1838	December 2010		[17][18]
$13.9	$10.00	Waldseemüller map Only surviving copy of the first map to use the name "America" and showing that the Americas were separated from Asia by the Pacific Ocean. Purchased by the Library of Congress.	Martin Waldseemüller	1507	June 2003		[19]
$10.9	$9.83	Acts of Congress George Washington's personal copy of a printed edition of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, with annotations in his own hand. Purchased by Mount Vernon Ladies' Association.	–	1789	June 2012		[20]
$9.8	$9.65	The Birds of America One of 119 complete copies known to exist. Copy originally owned by the 4th Duke of Portland (1768–1854). Purchased by an anonymous buyer.	John James Audubon	1827–1838	June 2018		[21][22]
$10.1	$9.32	Babylonian Talmud One of 14 complete sets printed by Daniel Bomberg that are known to exist. Previously owned by Richard Bruerne, Westminster Abbey and the Valmadonna Trust Library. Purchased by Stephan Loewentheil.	–	1519–1523	December 2015		[23][24]
$9.2	$9.19	Yongle Encyclopedia (永樂大典 Yǒnglè Dàdiǎn) Two volumes (comprising chapters 2268–2269 and 7391–7392) of the manuscript copy of the Yongle Encyclopedia produced between 1562 and 1567 for the Jiajing Emperor. The original copy produced between 1403 and 1408 is now lost, and only about 400 of the 11,095 volumes of the 16th-century copy now survive. These two previously unrecorded volumes in private ownership in France were bought by a Chinese collector from Zhejiang called Jīn Liàng 金亮.[25]	–	1567	July 2020		[26]
$8.8	$8.80	The Olympic Manifesto Pierre de Coubertin's 14-page autograph manuscript for his 1892 speech outlining his vision for a modern revival of the ancient Olympic Games. Purchased by Alisher Usmanov and donated to the Olympic Museum.	Pierre de Coubertin	1892	December 2019		[27][28]
$13.1	$8.80	The Birds of America One of 119 complete copies known to exist. Copy originally owned by George Lane Fox (1793–1848) and subsequently by John Crichton-Stuart, 4th Marquess of Bute	John James Audubon	1827–1838	March 2000		[29][30]
$8.8	$8.76	Quran Manuscript of the Quran written on coloured Chinese (Ming dynasty) paper speckled with gold flecks; produced under the Aq Qoyunlu Confederation (1378–1501) or the Timurid Empire (1370–1507).	–	15th century	June 2020		[31]
$12.1	$8.14	United States Declaration of Independence Dunlap broadside #23. Purchased by a consortium of buyers including Norman Lear.	Thomas Jefferson et al.	1776	June 2000		[32]
$11.9	$7.57	The Canterbury Tales First edition printed by William Caxton in 1477. Copy originally owned by John Radcliffe, then purchased by 4th Earl Fitzwilliam (1748–1833) in 1776 for £6. Purchased by Maggs Bros.	Geoffrey Chaucer	1477	July 1998		[33][34]
$7.6	$7.00	The 120 Days of Sodom Original manuscript. Previously owned by Charles de Noailles. Purchased by Gérard Lhéritier for the Musée des Lettres et Manuscrits. Later declared a French national treasure and removed from auction after Lhéritier's arrest for fraud.	Marquis de Sade	1785	April 2014		[35][36]
$6.6	$6.64	The Birds of America One of 119 complete copies known to exist. Copy originally owned by the Yorkshire Philosophical Society until 1946, and in possession of the Deerfield Academy from 1973 to 1985.	John James Audubon	1827–1838	December 2019		[37]
$6.9	$6.20	The Deeds of Sir Gillion de Trazegnies in the Middle East Illuminated chivalric romance on vellum originally owned by Louis de Gruuthuse and subsequently by Louis XII of France and William Cavendish	–	1464	December 2012		[38]
$8.9	$6.17	Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories & Tragedies Third issue of the First Folio edition. Copy from the Library of Abel E. Berland; originally owned by Allen Puleston, then by the Dryden baronets of Canons Ashby. Purchased by Paul Allen.	William Shakespeare	1623	October 2001		[39][40]
$6.7	$6.06	Letter from Francis Crick to his son Letter explaining "the secret of life" written more than a month before the public announcement of DNA.	Francis Crick	1953	April 2013		[41]
$11.4	$5.80	Northumberland Bestiary Previously owned by the Dukes of Northumberland. Purchased by an anonymous buyer; resold in June 2007 for an unknown amount to the J. Paul Getty Museum.	–	c. 1250-1260	November 1990		[42]
$6.1	$5.68	Symphony No. 2 (Resurrection) Autograph manuscript by the composer. Given by Alma Mahler to Willem Mengelberg. Later owned by Gilbert Kaplan.	Gustav Mahler	1894	November 2016		[43]
$7.4	$5.62	The Birds of America One of 119 complete copies known to exist. Copy owned by the Providence Athenaeum.	John James Audubon	1827–1838	December 2005		[44]
$13.1	$5.50	Les Liliacées Copy owned by Empress Joséphine (1763–1814).	Pierre-Joseph Redouté	1802	November 1985		[45]
$12.1	$5.39	Gutenberg Bible Copy owned by Carrie Estelle Doheny (1875–1958), then donated to St. John's Seminary in California. Purchased by Japanese booksellers Maruzen; resold to Keio University in 1996 for an undisclosed sum.	–	1450–1455	October 1987		[46]
$6.6	$5.17	Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories & Tragedies Third issue of the First Folio edition. Copy originally owned by William Bates (1625–1699), then acquired by Daniel Williams (c. 1643–1716) in 1699, and held at Dr Williams's Library in London from 1716 until the sale in 2006. Purchased by London dealer, Simon Finch Rare Books.	William Shakespeare	1623	July 2006		[47]
$7.2	$4.59	Burdett Psalter An illuminated psalter made for Jean de Villiers, who was 22nd Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller from 1285 until 1293. Purchased by an anonymous private collector.	–	13th century	June 1998		[48]
$5.7	$4.47	Traité des Arbres Fruitiers This copy painted between 1804 and 1809.	Henri-Louis Duhamel du Monceau	1768	December 2006		[49]
$6.8	$4.45	Cornaro Missal An illuminated missal owned by Cardinal Marco Cornaro (1482–1524) and subsequently by Nathaniel Meyer von Rothschild (1836-1905).	–	1503	July 1999		[50]
$9.8	$4.34	Nine Symphonies Autograph manuscript by the composer of symphonies 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30. Purchased by an anonymous buyer who gave it to the Pierpont Morgan Library on permanent loan.	Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart	1770s	May 1987		[51][52]
$5.1	$4.34	Rules of basketball Typewritten first draft of the rules by James Naismith. Purchased by David Booth, and given to The University of Kansas on permanent loan.	James Naismith	1892	December 2010		[53][54]
$6	$4.17	Hours of Albrecht of Brandenburg Book of Hours painted by Simon Bening for Albrecht of Brandenburg	–	1522–23	June 2001		[55]
$7.4	$4.07	The Birds of America One of 119 complete copies known to exist. Copy originally owned by the University of Edinburgh.	John James Audubon	1827–1838	April 1992		[56]
$4.9	$3.97	The Tales of Beedle the Bard One of seven copies handwritten and illustrated by J. K. Rowling. Purchased by Hazlitt, Gooden & Fox on behalf of Amazon.	J. K. Rowling	2007	December 2007		[57]
$5	$3.96	Geographia Cosmographia Copy originally owned by Hieronymus Münzer (1437/47–1508). Purchased by Bernard Shapero on behalf of a private collector.	Claudius Ptolemy	1477	October 2006		[58][59]
$4.2	$3.86	Torah Editio princeps of the Pentateuch in Hebrew, with paraphrases in Aramaic, printed in Bologna. Purchased by an anonymous buyer.	–	1482	April 2014		[60][61]
$4.4	$3.78	Emancipation Proclamation One of 27 surviving copies of the Leland-Boker "Authorized Edition" printed by Frederick Leypoldt to benefit the Great Central Fair for the Sanitary Commission. Copy owned by Robert F. Kennedy	Abraham Lincoln	1863	December 2010		[62]
$4.4	$3.77	Rochefoucauld Grail Three volume illuminated manuscript containing the Lancelot-Grail cycle. Originally owned by Guy VII de La Rochefoucauld. Subsequently owned by Thomas Phillipps and Joost Ritman.	–	c. 1315-23	December 2010		[63]
$4	$3.72	Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica Association copy of the first edition	Isaac Newton	1687	December 2016		[64]
$3.9	$3.61	Hebrew Bible Vellum manuscript produced in England, comprising the Pentateuch, Haftarah and the Five Megillot. Previously part of the Valmadonna Trust Library. Purchased by the Green Collection and donated to the Museum of the Bible.	–	1189	December 2015		[65][66]
$3.8	$3.53	The Birds of America One of 119 complete copies known to exist. Copy originally owned by York Subscription Library and subsequently by the Indiana Historical Society.	John James Audubon	1827–1838	April 2014		[67]
$4.9	$3.49	Symphony No. 9 (Choral) Copyist's manuscript with annotations by the composer. Purchased by an anonymous private collector.	Ludwig van Beethoven	1824	May 2003		[68]
$4	$3.40	Letter from Abraham Lincoln responding to "Little People's Petition" Response from Lincoln to "Children's Petition to the President asking him to free all the little slave children in this country."	Abraham Lincoln	c. 1864	April 2008		[69]
$3.5	$3.33	Prelude, Fugue and Allegro for lute or keyboard in E flat major (BWV 998) Autograph manuscript signed by Bach. Originally owned by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach and subsequently by Breitkopf and Alfred Henry Huth	Johann Sebastian Bach	c. 1735–1740	July 2016		[70]
$3.8	$3.22	Letter from George Washington to Bushrod Washington Letter from Washington to his nephew arguing in support of the adoption of the proposed U.S. Constitution.	George Washington	1787	December 2009		[71][72]
$3.5	$3.21	Action Comics 1 First appearance of Superman	Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster	1938	August 2014		[73]
$3.3	$3.11	The Gospels of Queen Theutberga Illuminated gospel book, probably produced at the Benedictine abbey at Metz for a member of the Carolingian dynasty, perhaps Queen Theutberga. Previously owned by Guglielmo Libri and William Tite.	–	c.825–850	July 2015		[74]
$4.4	$3.09	Last Address as President Autograph manuscript of Lincoln's final speech. Previously owned by Joan Whitney Payson.	Abraham Lincoln	1865	March 2002		[75]
$6.2	$3.03	Monypenny Breviary Illuminated breviary originally owned by William Monypenny. Purchased by Pierre Beres	–	c. 1490	July 1989		[76]
$3.5	$2.97	Surrealist Manifesto Autograph Manuscript owned by Simone Collinet. Purchased by Gérard Lhéritier for the Musée des Lettres et Manuscrits. Later declared a French national treasure and removed from auction after Lhéritier's arrest for fraud.	André Breton	1924	May 2008		[77][36]
$2.9	$2.89	"God" letter Letter written by Einstein to his friend Eric Gutkind explaining his religious beliefs	Albert Einstein	1954	December 2018		[78]
$3.2	$2.88	The North American Indian, being a Series of Volumes Picturing and Describing the Indians of the United States and Alaska Limited edition copy on Japan vellum signed by Curtis.	Edward S. Curtis	1907-1930	April 2012		[79]
$3.1	$2.77	Portolan Atlas.	Battista Agnese	1542-46	April 2012		[80]
$2.9	$2.75	Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories & Tragedies Third issue of the First Folio edition. Copy originally owned by Robert Edwards, then by George Shuckburgh-Evelyn (1751–1804). Purchased by a private collector in the US.	William Shakespeare	1623	May 2016		[81][82]
$5.8	$2.70	Psalter and Hours of Elizabeth de Bohun Illuminated manuscript originally owned by Elizabeth de Bohun. Subsequently purchased for an unknown amount by the Green Collection and donated to the Museum of the Bible	–	14th century	1988		[83][84] [85]
$2.9	$2.57	Imhof Prayerbook Illuminated by Simon Bening. Earliest dated work by Bening	–	1511	July 2011		[86]
$3.4	$2.56	Doria Atlas Composite atlas comprising a mixture of manuscript and printed maps dating from the late 16th and early 17th centuries; commissioned by Giovanni Andrea Doria (1539–1606). Purchased by Bernard Shapero.	–	1570–1620	October 2005		[87]
$2.7	$2.55	Hortus Eystettensis Deluxe coloured copy of the first edition. Originally owned by Giovanni Faber.	Basilius Besler	1613	July 2016		[88]
$2.8	$2.52	Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica Presentation copy of the first edition given to James II by Newton.	Isaac Newton	1687	December 2013		[89]
$3.8	$2.50	The First Book of Urizen One of eight surviving copies of the original hand-printed, colour-illustrated book. Copy owned by John Hay Whitney (1904–1982). Purchased by a private collector.	William Blake	1794	April 1999		[90]
$3.5	$2.50	On the Road Original scroll. Purchased by Jim Irsay.	Jack Kerouac	1951	May 2001		[91]
$2.9	$2.48	Quran leaf palimpsest One of the earliest quranic manuscripts known	–	Mid 7th century	April 2008		[92]
$5.4	$2.42	Biblia pauperum (The Gotha-Doheny Copy)	–	1460–1470	October 1987		[93][46]
$2.6	$2.41	Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution Copy signed by Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) and various members of Congress. One of 3 "Senate" copies of vellum. Previously owned by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.	–	1864	May 2016		[94]
$9.4	$2.40	Gutenberg Bible Copy owned by the Pforzheimer Foundation. Purchased by the Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas at Austin.	–	1450–1455	1978		[95]
$2.6	$2.40	De libris revolutionum eruditissimi viri...Doctoris Nicolai Copernici… Narratio prima First Edition of the first account of Copernicus's heliocentrism.	Georg Joachim Rheticus	1540	July 2016		[96]
$2.7	$2.40	Machzor Florentine illuminated manuscript on vellum	–	1490s	May 2011		[97]
$3	$2.37	Album Amicorum An album amicorum (book of friendship) comprising paintings and drawing by many different artists, collected by Philipp Hainhofer between 1596 and 1633.	–	1596–1633	June 2006		[98]
$2.8	$2.36	Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories & Tragedies (First Folio) Third issue of the First Folio edition. Copy owned by Lord Hesketh (1916–1955).	William Shakespeare	1623	December 2010		[99]
$2.9	$2.34	Quran Signed Yahya Bin Muhammad Inn 'Umar, Probably Mesopotamia. Previously owned by Archer Milton Huntington (1870-1955) and the Hispanic Society of America	–	1203	October 2007		[100]
$4	$2.30	Symphony No. 2 Autograph manuscript by the composer. Purchased by Robin Lehman.	Robert Schumann	1846-47	December 1994		[101]
$2.6	$2.21	De revolutionibus orbium coelestium First edition printed in Nuremberg by Johann Petreius in 1543. Copy originally owned by Nicolas-Joseph Foucault (1643–1721) and subsequently by Myron Prinzmetal (1908-1987).	Nicolaus Copernicus	1543	June 2008		[102]
$3.5	$2.20	Archimedes Palimpsest Palimpsest manuscript of On the Equilibrium of Planes, On Floating Bodies, The Method of Mechanical Theorems, On Spiral Lines, On the Sphere and the Cylinder, On the Measurement of the Circle, and Stomachion.	Archimedes	late 10th century	October 1998		[103]
$8.6	$2.20	Gutenberg Bible Copy owned by the General Theological Seminary in New York. Purchased by Bernard H. Breslauer on behalf of the Württembergische Landesbibliothek in Stuttgart.	–	1450–1455	April 1978		[104]
$2.3	$2.17	Emancipation Proclamation One of 27 surviving copies of the Leland-Boker "Authorized Edition" printed by Frederick Leypoldt to benefit the Great Central Fair for the Sanitary Commission. Signed by Abraham Lincoln and William H. Seward	Abraham Lincoln	1863	May 2016		[105]
$2.1	$2.13	Almanac Book of Hours Illuminated book of hours on vellum. Originally made for Marie de Balsac	Master of the Monypenny Breviary	1490s	July 2020		[106]
$2.5	$2.10	A New and Correct Map of the United States of North America Layd Down from the Latest Observations and Best Authorities Agreeable to the Peace of 1783 First map of the United States published in America. Previously owned by William L. Dayton and the New Jersey Historical Society.	Abel Buell	1784	December 2010		[107]
$3	$2.10	Letter from Szilard and Einstein to President Roosevelt Typed letter written by Leo Szilard and signed by Albert Einstein warning that Nazi Germany might develop nuclear weapons and suggesting the US should start its own nuclear program.	Leo Szilard	1939	March 2002		[108]
$2.2	$2.05	Like a Rolling Stone Handwritten working lyrics by Bob Dylan.	Bob Dylan	1965	June 2014		[109]
$2.2	$2.02	Symphony No. 2 Autograph manuscript by the composer.	Sergei Rachmaninoff	1908	May 2014		[110]
$2.2	$1.95	Great Hours of Galeazzo Maria Sforza Book of Hours originally owned by Galeazzo Maria Sforza, and subsequently by William Waldorf Astor.	–	1471-1476	July 2011		[111]
$2.3	$1.88	Kufic Quran Almost complete manuscript on vellum, produced in North Africa or the Middle East. Previously owned by Archer Milton Huntington (1870-1955) and the Hispanic Society of America	–	Early 10th century	October 2007		[112]
$2.4	$1.87	Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution Copy signed by Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) and various members of Congress.	–	1864	March 2006		[49]
$2	$1.85	Opera (Bucolica, Georgica, Aeneid, with argumenta) Second printed edition of the works of Virgil, published in Venice by Vindelinus de Spira in 1470.	Virgil	1470	June 2013		[113]
$2	$1.85	Missal Illuminated by the Master of the Prayerbook of Albrecht V.	–	1430-35	July 2014		[114]
$2	$1.85	Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye Translated and printed by William Caxton (c. 1422 – c. 1491) in Bruges; the first printed book in English and the first book printed by Caxton. Previously owned by George Hibbert, John Wilks and Thomas Phillipps.	Raoul Lefèvre	1464	July 2014		[115]
$7.1	$1.80	Gutenberg Bible Copy originally owned by George Shuckburgh-Evelyn (1751–1804). Purchased by the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz.	–	1450–1455	March 1978		[116]
$2.3	$1.79	Album of watercolours	Pierre Gourdelle	1555	2006		[49]
$2	$1.76	Liber Insularum Archipelagi Illuminated Atlas of the Greek Islands on vellum. Previously owned by Thomas Phillipps.	Cristoforo Buondelmonti	1450	April 2012		[117]
$1.9	$1.73	Double plate from King Ottokar's Sceptre	Hergé	1939	October 2015		[118]
$2.7	$1.71	The Birds of America One of 119 complete copies known to exist. Copy originally owned by the Young Men's Association of the City of Buffalo (later Buffalo & Erie County Public Library).	John James Audubon	1827–1838	April 1997		[119]
$2.7	$1.69	Wycliffe New Testament Vellum New Testament in later version, translated into Middle English by Wycliffe and John Purvey. Previously owned by Alexander Peckover and Apsley Cherry-Garrard.	John Wycliffe	1st half of the 15th century	December 2016		[120]
$2.1	$1.67	Illustrated folio from the Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp From the illustrated manuscript of Ferdowsi's epic poem presented by Tahmasp to Selim II. Illustration attributed to Aqa Mirak. Previously owned by Edmond de Rotschild and Arthur A. Houghton Jr.	Ferdowsi	c.1530–1540	October 2006		[121]
$2	$1.67	Le livre des propriétés des choses Translation into French by Jean Corbechon of De proprietatibus rerum. Originally made for Charles V of France.	Bartholomeus Anglicus	c. 1390	July 2010		[122]
$2.6	$1.65	De humani corporis fabrica The only known completely coloured copy; probably the presentation copy given to Charles V by Vesalius in 1543.	Andreas Vesalius	1543	March 1998		[123]
$1.8	$1.60	The Watsons Autograph manuscript of a draft for the unfinished novel. Originally owned by Cassandra Austen	Jane Austen	1803	July 2011		[124]
$1.8	$1.59	Apple computer contract Original Apple Partnership Agreement, signed by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ron Wayne.	–	1976	December 2011		[125]
$1.8	$1.56	Description de l'Égypte First edition copy originally owned by Jean Joseph Antoine de Courvoisier (1775–1835).	Commission des sciences et arts d'Egypte	1817–1830	May 2011		[126]
$1.7	$1.55	Arabic-English Lexicon Fair copy. Commissioned by Algernon Percy, 4th Duke of Northumberland	Edward William Lane	1842–1876	October 2014		[127]
$2.3	$1.55	Circe Autograph manuscript of chapter of Ulysses with additions, revisions and reworkings by Joyce in the margins. Originally owned by John Quinn. Purchased by the National Library of Ireland.	James Joyce	1920	December 2000		[128]
$2.4	$1.54	Alice's Adventures in Wonderland First edition copy originally owned by Lewis Carroll (1832–1898).	Lewis Carroll	1865	December 1998		[129]
$4.7	$1.50	Jami' al-tawarikh 59 folios from the second volume of the "Arabic Manuscript". Purchased by Nasser Khalili	Rashid-al-Din Hamadani	Early 14th century	1980		[130][83]
$1.5	$1.50	United States Declaration of Independence Broadside printed by John Holt. One of only five surviving Holt broadsides. Originally owned by Colonel David Mulford	Thomas Jefferson et al.	1776	January 2018		[131]
$1.6	$1.45	The Federalist Papers: No. 4 Autograph draft manuscript. Originally owned by Jay's sons Peter and William.	John Jay	1787	December 2015		[132]
$1.6	$1.44	The North American Indian, being a Series of Volumes Picturing and Describing the Indians of the United States and Alaska	Edward S. Curtis	1907-1930	October 2012		[133]
$1.6	$1.44	Letter from George Washington to John Armstrong Sr. Letter from Washington explaining his private thoughts on the U.S. Constitution.	George Washington	1788	June 2013		[134]
$1.6	$1.43	Murphy Autograph Manuscript. Originally owned by Brian Coffey.	Samuel Beckett	1936	July 2013		[135]
$2.8	$1.43	The Federalist Copy originally owned by George Washington (1732–1799).	Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison	1788	January 1990		[84]
$1.9	$1.42	The North American Indian, being a Series of Volumes Picturing and Describing the Indians of the United States and Alaska	Edward S. Curtis	1907-1930	October 2005		[136]
$2	$1.41	Hortus Eystettensis Deluxe coloured copy of the first edition.	Basilius Besler	1613	November 2001		[137]
$1.7	$1.41	Epistolae First edition of the enlarged recension of the letters of Hieronymus (Saint Jerome), printed on vellum in Mainz by Peter Schöffer. Previously owned by Thomas Phillipps.	Jerome	1470	July 2010		[138]
$1.7	$1.40	Poisson Soluble Autograph manuscript owned by Simone Collinet	André Breton	1924	May 2008		[139]
$1.5	$1.38	Illustrated folio from the Shahnameh of Shah Ismail II From the illustrated manuscript of Ferdowsi's epic poem previously owned by Rudolf Martin. Illustration attributed to Burji	Ferdowsi	c.1577	April 2012		[140]
$1.4	$1.33	Opticks Presentation copy of the first edition given by Newton to Edmond Halley. Inscribed "Luceo. Ex dono doctissimi Authoris" on title page by Halley.	Isaac Newton	1704	December 2015		[141]
$1.4	$1.29	The Complete Book of the Medical Art Earliest known copy of the work. Previously owned by Baha' al-Din al-'Amili	'Ali ibn al-'Abbas al-Majusi	c.980	October 2014		[142]
$1.6	$1.29	Atlas of England and Wales First printed atlas of England and Wales	Christopher Saxton	1579-90	March 2007		[143]
$1.5	$1.28	De revolutionibus orbium coelestium First edition printed in Nuremberg by Johann Petreius in 1543.	Nicolaus Copernicus	1543	November 2011		[144]
$1.4	$1.26	Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye Translated and printed by William Caxton (c. 1422 – c. 1491) in Bruges; the first printed book in English and the first book printed by Caxton. Copy previously owned by 2nd Marquess of Rockingham and 4th Earl Fitzwilliam.	Raoul Lefèvre	1464	July 1998		[145]
$1.3	$1.26	Marvel Comics 1	Martin Goodman	1939	November 2019		[146]
$1.6	$1.25	Hours of the Cross Illuminated manuscript on vellum original owned by John, Duke of Berry and subsequently by Beatrice of Portugal and Henry Pomeroy, 2nd Viscount Harberton.	–	1425-1435	December 2006		[147]
$1.3	$1.24	Exposition Abrégée Du Système Du Monde Selon Les Principes De Monsieur Newton Handwritten manuscript of translation into French of Isaac Newton's Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica	Émilie du Châtelet	1745-49	October 2015		[148]
$1.3	$1.22	Summa de arithmetica First edition of the first vernacular book on algebra and the first description of double-entry bookkeeping.	Luca Pacioli	1494	June 2019		[149]
$1.3	$1.21	American Pie Handwritten working lyrics by Don McLean.	Don McLean	1971	April 2015		[150]
$1.4	$1.20	A Day in the Life Handwritten lyrics by John Lennon	John Lennon	1967	June 2010		[151]
$1.2	$1.18	United States Declaration of Independence Broadside printed by E. Russell.	Thomas Jefferson et al.	1776	January 2018		[152]
$1.5	$1.17	Diaries Six volumes of the author's diaries from 1805 to 1814. Preemptively purchased prior to auction by the French state; now held at the Musée Stendhal in Grenoble.	Stendhal	1805–1814	June 2006		[153][49]
$2.6	$1.16	On the Theory of Relativity Handwritten manuscript.	Albert Einstein	1912	December 1987		[154]
$1.2	$1.14	An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations Author's own copy of the first edition.	Adam Smith	1776	December 2018		[155]
$1.3	$1.11	Scenes from Goethe's Faust Autograph manuscript by the composer.	Robert Schumann	1853	November 2011		[156]
$1.1	$1.10	Un coup de dés jamais n'abolira le hasard Autograph Manuscript.	Stéphane Mallarmé	1897	October 2015		[157]
$1.3	$1.10	Amazing Fantasy #15 First appearance of Spider-Man	Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko	1962	2011		[146]
$1.1	$1.09	Illuminated double-sided bifolium from Nahj al Faradis The Angel of Bounty and the arrival of the Second Heaven of Pearls	–	c. 1465	October 2019		[158]
$1.2	$1.08	Geographia tavole moderne di geografia de la maggior parte del mondo di diverse autori raccolte et messe secondo l'ordine di Tolomeo con i disegni di molte citta et fortesse Italian assembled-to-order atlas.	Antonio Lafreri	1592	April 2012		[159]
$1.3	$1.07	Detective Comics 27 First appearance of Batman	Bob Kane and Bill Finger	1939	2010		[160]
$1.4	$1.07	Naturalis Historia Printed in Rome on vellum.	Pliny the Elder	1861	October 2005		[161]
$1.2	$1.07	De revolutionibus orbium coelestium First edition printed in Nuremberg by Johann Petreius in 1543.	Nicolaus Copernicus	1543	November 2013		[162]
$1.2	$1.07	Young Men's Magazine Miniature manuscript, one of six 'little' books written by Brontë. Purchased by Gérard Lhéritier for the Musée des Lettres et Manuscrits. Later purchased by the Brontë Parsonage Museum for $873,600 after Lhéritier's arrest for fraud	Charlotte Brontë	1830	December 2011		[163][164]
$1.1	$1.05	On the Origin of Species Third edition with autograph annotations for second German edition. Originally owned by Heinrich Georg Bronn.	Charles Darwin	1861	December 2017		[165]
$1.3	$1.05	The North American Indian, being a Series of Volumes Picturing and Describing the Indians of the United States and Alaska Portfolio and Volumes 1-16	Edward S. Curtis	1907-1930	October 2007		[166]
$1	$1.04	Letter by John Hancock announcing the adoption of the Declaration of Independence Manuscript letter signed by Hancock as President of Congress	John Hancock	1776	January 2020		[167]
$1.1	$1.03	Composition Notebook Autograph wartime manuscript of mathematical notes. Left in Turing's will to Robin Gandy	Alan Turing	1944	April 2015		[168]
$1.2	$1.02	Geographia Cosmographia First Ulm edition	Claudius Ptolemy	1482	June 2009		[169]
$1.1	$1.02	Babe Ruth's contract with the Boston Red Sox Signed by Ruth, Ban Johnson and Harry Frazee.	–	1918	July 2014		[170]
$1	$1.02	Illuminated double-sided bifolium from Nahj al Faradis The Two Hells reserved for Misers and Flatterers	–	c. 1465	October 2019		[171]
$1.5	$1.01	À la recherche du temps perdu vol. 1: Du côté de chez Swann First galley proofs of "Du côté de chez Swann", given to Robert Proust (1873–1935) by the author.	Marcel Proust	1913	June 2000		[172]
$1.3	$1.00	Waldseemüller gores Waldseemüller map printed in gores format to be made into globe	Martin Waldseemüller	1507	June 2005		[173]

Books and manuscripts by century

Century	Number sold
pre 10th	3
10th	3
11th	1
12th	2
13th	5
14th	4
15th	26
16th	21
17th	11
18th	15
19th	31
20th	26
21st	1

See also

• List of most expensive paintings
• List of most expensive sculptures
• List of most expensive photographs
• List of most expensive artworks by living artists

Footnotes

1. Frandsen, Tiffany; Mims, Bob (21 September 2017). "$35 million Book of Mormon manuscript sale called the 'biggest game-changer in Mormon history'". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
2. "Chinese calligraphy letter sets new auction record". BBC News. 16 May 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
3. Phillips, Tom (17 May 2016). "Eleventh-century Chinese letter – just 124 characters long – sells for $32m". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
4. Kiss, Jemima (13 June 2011). "Bill Gates on giving away his fortune - and Mark Zuckerberg's engagement?". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
5. "Sale Number: N08461: The Magna Carta". Sotheby's. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
6. Elsworth, Catherine (19 December 2007). "Magna Carta copy fetches $21m". The Telegraph. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
7. Ezard, John. "Baebes celebrate medieval treasure Sherborne Missal saved by chart-toppers". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
8. "宋刻孤本《石壁精舍音注唐书详节》嘉德春拍高价成交" (in Chinese). 22 June 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
9. "宋刻孤本拍出亿元天价 《石壁精舍音注唐书详节》成本季最贵古籍" (in Chinese). 21 June 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
10. "British Library acquires the St Cuthbert Gospel – the earliest intact European book". BBC News. 17 April 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
11. "The St Cuthbert Gospel". British Library. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
12. "Bay Psalm Book is most expensive printed work at $14.2m". BBC News. 27 November 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
13. "The Bay Psalm Book Sale". Sotheby's. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
14. "Sale 2819: Renaissance : Lot 157: The Rothschild Prayerbook, a Book of Hours, Use of Rome, in Latin, Illuminated Manuscript on Vellum". Christies. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
15. "The Stuart Cary Welch Collection, part one: Arts of the Islamic World 78 Faridun in the Guise of a Dragon Tests his Sons: Illustrated Folio (F.42) From the Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp, Attributed to Aqa Mirak, Persia, Tabriz, Royal Atelier, circa 1525-35". Sotheby's. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
16. Garcia, Guy (19 December 1983). "People: Dec. 19, 1983". Time Magazine. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
17. "Magnificent Books, Manuscripts and Drawings from the Collection of Frederick 2nd Lord Hesketh : Lot 50: Magnificent Books, Manuscripts and Drawings from the Collection of Frederick 2nd Lord Hesketh". Sotheby's. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
18. Gamerman, Ellen (8 December 2010). "'Birds' Book Soars to Record". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
19. "Library of Congress Completes Purchase of Waldseemüller Map". Library of Congress. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
20. "Post-Sale Release: George Washington's Acts of Congress - New York, 22 June 2012". Christies. 22 June 2010. Retrieved 2017-09-13.
21. "Sale 16423: The Portland Audubon : Lot 1". Christies. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
22. Rego Barry, Rebecca. "The "Portland Audubon" Sells for $9.65 Million". Fine Books & Collections. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
23. "The Valmadonna Trust Library: Part I : Magnificent Manuscripts and the Bomberg Talmud : Lot 12: The Complete Babylonian Talmud, Printed by Daniel Bomberg in Venice, Comprising tractates from the First (1519/20-1523) and Second (1525-1539) Editions". Sotheby's. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
24. "Record Breaking Judaica Sale at Sotheby's". The New York Jewish Week. Retrieved 2018-12-05.
25. Guo Kuangchao 郭匡超 (9 July 2020). "太珍貴！《永樂大典》手抄本拍賣成交價台幣2.7億元". China Times (in Chinese). Retrieved 2020-07-14.
26. "Chine - XVIe Siècle : Lot 231 : Deux rares albums Yongle Dadian". Beaussant Lefèvre. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
27. Loft, Halina (18 December 2019). "The Original Olympic Manifesto Brings Home the Gold". Sotheby's. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
28. "Alisher Usmanov donates £6.8m Olympic manifesto to Games museum". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
29. "Sale 9326: Books and Manuscripts : Lot 39: Audubon, John James (1785-1851). The Birds of America; from Original Drawings. London: Published by the Author, 1827-1838". Christies. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
30. "#5.5m for classic bird book found in Bute nest". The Herald (Glasgow). 11 March 2000. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
31. "Sale 18371 : Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds Including Oriental Rugs and Carpets : Lot 157: A Timurid or Aqquyunlu Qur'an on Chinese Paper". Christies. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
32. "Declaration of Independence Sold on Sothebys.Com for $8.14 Million". Sotheby's. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
33. "Sale 6012: Wentworth : Lot 2: Chaucer, Geoffrey (c. 1345-1400). The Canterbury Tales. [Westminster: William Caxton, late 1476 or 1477]". Christies. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
34. "Canterbury Tales fetches record £4.6m". BBC News. 9 July 1998. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
35. Willsher, Kim. "Original Marquis de Sade scroll returns to Paris". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
36. "France saves Marquis de Sade's 120 Days of Sodom from auction". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
37. "250 John James Audubon - The Birds of America; from Original Drawings by John James Audubon. London: Published by the Author, 1827–1838". Sotheby's. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
38. "Old Master & British paintings Evening Sale including three Renaissancee Masterworks from Chatsworth 51 Louis de Gruuthuse's copy of the Deeds of Sir Gillion de Trazegnies in the Middle East, in French, illuminated manuscript on vellum [southern Netherlands (Antwerp or perhaps Bruges), dated 1464]". Sotheby's. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
39. "Sale 9878: The Library of Abel E. Berland : Lot 100: Shakespeare, William (1564-1616). Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. Published according to the True Originall Copies. Edited by John Heminge (d. 1630) and Henry Condell (d. 1627). London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed. Blount at the Charges of W. Jaggard, Ed. Blount, I. Smithweeke, and W. Aspley, 1623". Christies. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
40. "Shakespeare First Folio Tops $5M". CBS News. 13 July 2006. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
41. "The Francis Crick 'Secret of Life' Letter: A remarkable letter to his son, revealing one of the most important scientific discoveries of the 20th century". Christie's. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
42. "Medieval manuscript lost to the North East can now be seen again". Chronicle Live. Evening Chronicle. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
43. "Music and Continental Books and Manuscripts : Lot 36: Mahler, Gustav The Autograph Manuscript of the Second Symphony ("The Resurrection"), the Complete Work in Five Movements". Sotheby's. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
44. "Sale 1561: John James Audubon's Birds of America". Christies. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
45. Reif, Rita (21 November 1985). "Redoute Watercolors Auctioned to Syndicate". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
46. "Gutenberg Bible Is Sold for Record $4.9 Million". Los Angeles Times. 23 October 1987. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
47. "English Literature, History, Fine Bindings, Private Press and Children's Books, Including the First Folio of Shakespeare : Lot 95: Shakespeare, William. Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. Published According to the True Originall Copies. Isaac Jaggard, and Ed. Blount (Printed at the Charges of W. Jaggard, Ed. Blount, I. Smithweeke and W. Aspley), 1623". Sotheby's. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
48. "Crusader's book sells for £2.75m". The Irish Times. 24 June 1998. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
49. "Ten Most Expensive Books of 2006". Fine Books & Collections. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
50. "Sale 6179 : The Collection of Barons Nathaniel and Albert von Rothschild : Lot 101: MISSAL, in Latin, Illuminated Manuscript on Vellum". Christies. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
51. Reif, Rita. "Record Price for Mozart Manuscript". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
52. "Mozart Scores Auctioned for Record $4.3 Million". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
53. "Sale Number: N08735 : James Naismith's Founding Rules of Basketball". Sotheby's. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
54. Keegan, Tom (10 December 2010). "Booths purchase original Naismith basketball rules at auction for more than $4 million". Retrieved 7 October 2019.
55. "The Hours of Albrecht of Brandenburg, illuminated by Simon Bening, use of Rome". Sotheby's. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
56. "Sale 7482: New York, Park Avenue : Lot 2: Audubon, John James. The Birds of America; from Original Drawings. London: Published by the Author 1827-1828". Christies. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
57. "English Literature, History, Children's Books and Illustrations : Lot 311A: Rowling, J.K. Autograph Manuscript of the Tales of Beedle the Bard Translated from the Original Runes by J.K. Rowling". Sotheby's. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
58. "The Wardington Library Part 2 : Lot 394: Ptolemaeus, Claudius (c.90–c.168)". Sotheby's. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
59. "Old atlas breaks auction record". BBC News. 10 October 2006. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
60. "Sale 3587 : Importants livres anciens, livres d'artistes et manuscrits : Lot 36: Bible, Pentateuch, in Hebrew - Hamishah humshe Torah , with paraphrase in Aramaic ( Targum Onkelos ) and commentary by Rashi (Solomon ben Isaac). Edited by Joseph Hayim ben Aaron Strasbourg Zarfati. Bologna: Abraham ben Hayim of Pesaro for Joseph ben Abraham Caravita, 5 Adar I [5] 242 = 25 January 1482". Christies. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
61. "1482 Torah book fetches record $3.87 million at Paris auction". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 1 May 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
62. "The Kennedy-Lincoln Emancipation Proclamation". Sotheby's. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
63. "Western Manuscripts and Miniature: 33 - The Rochefoucauld Grail, in French, illuminated manuscript on vellum [eastern Artois or western Flanders (most probably Saint-Omer, Tournai or Ghent), c.1315-23]". Sotheby's. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
64. "Newton, Sir Isaac (1642-1727, knighted 1705). Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica. [Edited by Edmond Halley (1656-1743)]. London: Joseph Streater for the Royal Society [at the expense of Edmond Halley], to be sold by Samuel Smith and other booksellers, 1687". Christie's. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
65. "The Valmadonna Trust Library: Part I Magnificent Manuscripts and the Bomberg Talmud : Lot 7: Hebrew Bible: Pentateuch with Haftarot and the Five Scrolls, England: 15 Tammuz 4949=2 July 1189". Sotheby's. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
66. "Codex Valmadonna". Museum of the Bible. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
67. "John James Audubon: the Birds of America, the Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America : Lot 101". Sotheby's. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
68. "Manuscript of Beethoven's 9th sells for almost EUR3 million". The Irish Times. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
69. "Presidential and other American Manuscripts from the Dr. Robert Small Trust 85 Lincoln, Abraham, as Sixteenth President". Sotheby's. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
70. "Sale 12139: Valuable Books and Manuscripts : Lot 129: BACH, Johann Sebastian (1685-1750)". Christies. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
71. "Washington, George. Autograph letter signed (G:o Washington) to Bushrod Washington, 9 November 1787. 4 pages, large folio, expert, discreet mends to creases". Christie's. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
72. "George Washington letter smashes auction record". BBC News. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
73. "Superman's Action Comics No. 1 sells for record $3.2 million on eBay". CNET. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
74. "Sale 10455 : Valuable Books and Manuscripts Including Cartography : Lot 20: The 'Gospels of Queen Theutberga' in Latin, Illuminated Manuscript on Vellum [Lotharingia, perhaps Metz, c.825–850 (before 835?)]". Christies. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
75. "Lot105 While the crowd was assembling in front of the house and before the President went up-stairs to the window from which he was to speak, I was with him, and noticed that he carried a roll of manuscript in his hand From a point of concealment behind the window drapery I held a light while he read, dropping the pages of his written speech one by one upon the floor as he finished them. Little Tad scrambled around on the floor, importuning his father to give him 'another,' as he collected the sheets of paper fluttering from the President's hand.". Christie's. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
76. "Shah pays top price at second-hand car sale". heraldscotland.com. Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
77. "Books, Manuscripts and Photographs, including Nine Manuscripts by Andre Breton from the Simone Collinet Collection 201 Manifeste du surréalisme. Manuscrit autographe. [Lorient-Paris, juillet-août 1924]". Sotheby's. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
78. "Einstein, Albert (1879-1955). Autograph letter signed ("A. Einstein") to Eric Gutkind, Princeton, 3 January 1954". Christie's. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
79. "Sale 2622 : Important Books, Atlases and Manuscripts: The Private Library of Kenneth Nebenzahl : Lot 38: Curtis, Edward S. (1868-1952). The North American Indian being a Series of Volumes Picturing and Describing the Indians of the United States and Alaska. Edited by Frederick Webb Hodge. Foreword by Theodore Roosevelt. Field Research conducted under the patronage of J. Pierpont Morgan. [Cambridge, Mass.], 1907-1930". Christies. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
80. "Agnese, Battista (c. 1500-1564)]. Portolan atlas of the world. Illuminated Manuscript on Vellum. [Venice, c. 1542-46". Christie's. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
81. "Sale 13519 : Shakespeare: The Four Folios : Lot 101: Shakespeare, William (1564-1616). Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies, edited by John Heminge (d. 1630) and Henry Condell (d. 1627). London: Isaac Jaggard, and Edward Blount at the Charges of W. Jaggard, Ed. Blount, I. Smithweeke, and W. Aspley, 1623". Christies. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
82. Capon, Alex (27 May 2016). "US collector splashes out £2.48m on four Shakespeare folios at Christie's". Retrieved 7 October 2019.
83. Oswald, Godfrey (2017). Library World Records (3rd ed.). McFarland & Company. p. 223. ISBN 9781476667775.
84. Reif, Rita. "Auctions". New York Times. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
85. "Hours and Psalter of Elizabeth de Bohun, Countess of Northampton". Museum of the Bible. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
86. "Sale 7982 : The Arcana Collection: Exceptional Illuminated Manuscripts, Part III : Lot 26: The Imhof Prayerbook, illuminated by Simon Bening, in Latin and Dutch, Illuminated Manuscript on Vellum". Christies. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
87. "The Library of Lord Wardington: Important Atlases and Geographies Part One : Lot 143: Doria Atlas". Sotheby's. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
88. "Besler, Basilius (1561-1629). Hortus Eystettensis. [Nuremberg]: 1613". Christie's. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
89. "Sale 2751 : Fine Printed Books & Manuscript Including Americana : Lot 170: Newton, Sir Isaac (1642-1727, knighted 1705). Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica. [Edited by Edmond Halley (1656-1743).] London: Joseph Streater for the Royal Society [at the expense of Edmond Halley], to be sold by various booksellers, 1687". Christies. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
90. Kotter, Holland (24 April 1999). "Rare Blake Book Sells for $2.5 Million at Sotheby's". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
91. "Kerouac, Jean Louis Lebris de (Jack), 1922-1969. Typescript scroll of On the Road (published 1957), comprising the first draft of the definitive Beat Generation novel, the working draft from which the published novel derives. Typed by Kerouac in New York City in a 20-day marathon between April 2 and 22, 1951". Christie's. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
92. "A Qur'an Leaf Palimpsest on Vellum Probably Madina, mid 7TH Century". Christie's. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
93. Bodleian Library; Alan Edward Coates (2005). A Catalogue of Books Printed in the Fifteenth Century Now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford: Blockbooks ; woodcut and metalcut single sheets ; A. Oxford University Press. pp. 16–. ISBN 978-0-19-951905-7.
94. "Two Centuries of American History 79 Abraham Lincoln, as sixteenth President An extremely rare Manuscript copy of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, signed and endorsed by Abraham Lincoln "Aproved. February 1, 1865.")". Sotheby's. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
95. "Gutenberg Bible Census". 27 November 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
96. "Rheticus Georg Joachim (1514-1574). De libris revolutionum eruditissimi viri...Doctoris Nicolai Copernici… Narratio prima. Gdansk: Franz Rhode, 1540". Christie's. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
97. "Mahzor, book containing prayers for the feasts of the liturgical year, in Hebrew, illuminated manuscript on vellum". Christie's. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
98. "Sale 1769 L The History of the Book: The Cornelius J. Hauck Collection : Lot 263: Album Amicorum -- Das Grosse Stammbuch of Philipp Hainhofer, in German, Latin, French and Italian, Illuminated Manuscript on Vellum and Paper". Christies. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
99. "Magnificent Books, Manuscripts and Drawings from the Collection of Frederick 2nd Lord Hesketh : Lot 13: Shakespeare, William. Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. Published according to the true Original copies. London: Isaac Jaggard, and Ed. Blound (Printed at the Charges of W. Jaggard, Ed. Blount, I. Smithweeke and W. Aspley), 1623". Sotheby's. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
100. "Sale 7428 : Art of The Islamic and Indian World : Lot 20: Qur'an". Christies. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
101. "Schumann's 2nd Symphony Score Sells for $2.3 Million". LA Times. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
102. "Sale 2013: Important Scientific Books: The Richard Green Library : Lot 60: Copernicus, Nicolaus (1473-1543). De revolutionibus orbium coelestium, libri V. Nuremberg: Johann Petreius, 1543". Christies. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
103. "Sale 9058: The Archimedes Palimpsest : Lot 1: Archimedes (ca. 287 - 212 BC). On the Equilibrium of Planes; On Floating Bodies; The Method of Mechanical Theorems; On Spiral Lines; On the Sphere and the Cylinder; On the Measurement of the Circle; Stomachion, all in Greek. Palimpsest Manuscript on Vellum (upper text: Euchologion, in Greek, 12th century)". Christies. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
104. Reif, Rita (8 April 1978). "Gutenberg Bought at Auction for $2 Million for Stuttgart Library". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
105. "Two Centurreis of American History 78 Abraham Lincoln, as sixteenth President The "Authorised Edition" of the Emancipation Proclamation, Signed by President Abraham Lincoln". Sotheby's. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
106. "Master of the Monypenny Breviary and associates The Almanac Book of Hours, use of Rome, in Latin and French, illuminated manuscript on vellum [Bourges, c. 1490s]". Christie's. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
107. "Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts Including Americana: Buell, Abel (1742-1822). A New and Correct Map of the United States of North America Layd Down from the Latest Observations and Best Authorities Agreeable to the Peace of 1783. Humbly Inscribed to his Excellency the Governor and Company of the State of Connecticut By their Most Obedient and Very Humble Servant Abel Buell. New Haven: Abel Buell, 1784". Christies. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
108. "Einstein, Albert. Typed letter signed (A. Einstein) To President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Peconic, Long Island, 2 August 1939, 1½ pages, 4to (10 7/8 by 8½ in.), on one side each of two sheets of typewriter bond paper, tiny punctures in upper right corners from stapling faint penciled note by Leo Szilard at top: Original, not sent!". Christie's. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
109. "Bob Dylan Original Working Autograph Manuscript of "Like a Rolling Stone" - The Final Draft Lyrics as Recorded [June, 1965]". Sotheby's. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
110. "The Autograph Manuscript of the Second Symphony in E Minor, OP.27". Sotheby's. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
111. "Sale 7982 : The Arcana Collection: Exceptional Illuminated Manuscripts, Part III : Lot 18: The Great Hours of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, Duke of Milan, use of Rome, in Latin and Italian, Illuminated Manuscript on Vellum". Christies. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
112. "Art of The Islamic and Indian World : Lot 10: Property from the Hispanic Society of America, Deaccessioned by Order of the Trustees to Benefit the Acquisitions Fund an Almost Complete Kufic Qur'an". Christies. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
113. "Sale 1176 : Valuable Printed Books and Manuscripts Lot 82: Vergilius Maro, Publius (70-19 B.C.). Opera (Bucolica, Georgica, Aeneid, with argumenta). Venice: Vindelinus de Spira, 1470". Christies. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
114. "Lot 11 Missal, use of Udine, Illuminated Manuscript on Vellum, [Vienna, c.1430-35]". Christie's. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
115. "English Literature, History, Children's Books & Illustrations : Lot 502: Lefèvre, Raoul Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye [Translated by William Caxton]. [Ghent or Bruges: David Aubert For] William Caxton, [C. 1473-74]". Sotheby's. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
116. Kirshenbaum, Sandra. Fine Print. S. Kirshenbaum. pp. 102–. Early in March Mr. Kraus sold his Bible, known as the Shuckburgh copy, to the Gutenberg Museum of Mainz for $1,800,000, the highest price ever paid.
117. "Buondelmonti, Cristoforo (Florence c. 1385-not before 1430 probably Greece). Liber Insularum Archipelagi. Illuminated Manuscript on Vellum, in Latin. [Italy, perhaps Florence, c. 1450". Christie's. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
118. "Hergé (1907-1983) Tintin, le sceptre d'Ottokar". Sotheby's. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
119. "Sale 8626: Printed Books and Manuscripts : Lot 5: Audubon, John James. The Birds of America; from Original Drawings. [Volumes I-III, containing plates 1-300, lacking vol. IV]. London: Published by the Author, 1827-1836". Christies. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
120. "The Bible Collection of Dr. Charles Caldwell RYRIE 9 John Wycliffe Wycliffie New Testament in the Later Version, in Middle English [England, 1ST half of the 15TH Century]". Sotheby's. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
121. "Arts of the Islamic World 36 Burzuy Presents the Book of Kalilah wa Dimnah to King Nushirvan, Illustrated leaf from the royal Shahnama of Shah Tahmasp, folio 649 , Attributed to Aqa Mirak , Tabriz, Safavid, Persia, circa 1530-40". Sotheby's. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
122. "Sale 7911 : The Arcana Collection: Exceptional Illuminated Manuscripts and Incunabula, Part I : Lot 31: Bartholomaeus Anglicus (by 1203-1272), Le livre des propriétés des choses, in the French translation of Jean Corbechon, Illuminated Manuscript on Vellum". Christies. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
123. "Sale 8854: The Haskell F. Norman Library of Science and Medicine, Part : Lot 213: Vesalius, Andreas (1514-64). De humani corporis fabrica libri septem. Basel: Johannes Oporinus, June 1543". Christies. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
124. "Autograph Draft Manuscript of her Unfinished Novel 'The Watsons'". Sotheby's. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
125. "Apple computer contract and dissolution of contract signed by Jobs, Wozniak and Wayne (3 documents)". Sotheby's. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
126. "Sale 1057 : Collection Michel Wittock: quatrième partie - De Marius-Michel à Jean de Gonet / Jean-Joseph Tessier et La Description de l'Égypte Lot 80: Description de l'Égypte ou Recueil des observations et des recherches qui ont été faites en Egypte pendant l'expédition de l'armée française. Paris: Imprimerie impériale, 1809-1813, Imprimerie royale, 1817-[1830]". Christies. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
127. "Edward William Lane (d.1876), Arabic-English Lexicon, printers' manuscript copy, 40 volumes, second half 19th century, with 10 volumes of al-Saghani's 'Ubab, Egypt or Syria, Mamluk, dated 653 AH/1255 AD". Sotheby's. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
128. "Joyce, James (1882-1941). Autograph manuscript of the Circeepisode of Ulysses, a complete working draft with very extensive additions to the dialogue, revisions, word substitutions and other reworkings by Joyce in the left-hand margins of the pages and with additional sections of dialogue, word lists and other notes written on some versos. [Paris, July-December 1920]". Christie's. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
129. "Sale 9046: Lewis Carroll & Alice: Private Collection of Justin Schiller : Lot 38: Dodgson, Charles Lutwidge (Lewis Carroll). Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. London: [The Clarendon Press for] Macmillan, 1865". Christies. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
130. Blair, Sheila (1995). A compendium of chronicles : Rashid al-Din’s illustrated history of the world. Oxford University Press. p. 36. ISBN 1-874780-65-X.
131. Kenmore, Abraham. "1776 printing of the Declaration of Independence sold in Potsdam for $1.5m". nny360.com. Waterton Daily Times. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
132. "Federalist Papers. -- Jay, John (1745-1829). Autograph draft manuscript of Federalist Number Four [ca. 7 November 1787]. 6pp., folio, foxed, some soiling. Extensive emendations and interlineations throughout in Jay's hand. Wear at edges and creases catching portions of a few words". Christie's. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
133. "Curtis, Edward S. (1868-1952) The North American Indian. Being a Series of Volumes Picturing and Describing the Indians of the United States and Alaska". Swann Galleries. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
134. "Lot 188 WASHINGTON, George. Autograph letter signed (G:o Washington), to John Armstrong (1717-1795), Mount Vernon, 25 April 1788. 4o, 7 pages on two bifolia (9 x 7 3/8 in.). Professionally conserved: two horizontal folds neatly reinforced, slightly obscuring some text, light dampstains to page [4], left-hand margins of pages [1] and [4] with narrow strip from old mount". Christie's. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
135. "Beckett, Samuel "Sasha Murphu", The Complete Autograph Draft Manusript of his novel "Murphy", heavily corrected and revised throughout, with many cancelled passages". Sotheby's. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
136. "Lot 12". Christie's. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
137. "Basilius Besler (1561-1629)". Christie's. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
138. "The Arcana Collection: Exceptional Illuminated Manuscripts and Incunabula, Part I : Lot 10: Hieronymus (St., c.342-420). Epistolae. Edited by Adrianus Brielis (d.1472). Mainz: Peter Schoeffer, 7 September 1470". Christies. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
139. "Books, Manuscripts and Photographs, including nine manuscripts by Andre Breton from the Simone Collinet Collection 202 Poisson soluble. Manuscrit autographe. [août-septembre 1924]". Sotheby's. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
140. "An Illustrated and Illuminated Leaf from the Shah Isma'il II Shahnameh: The party after homage paid to Kay Khosraw by nobles following his enthronement, ascribed to the artist Burji, Qazvin, Persia, Safavid, circa 1577". Sotheby's. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
141. "Property from the collection of Robert S Pirie volumes I & II: Books and Manuscripts : Lot 918: Newton, Isaac Opticks: Or, a Treatise of the Reflexions, Refractions, Inflexions and Colours of Light. Also Two Treatises of the Species and Magnitude of Curvilinear Figures. London: Printed for Sam. Smith and Benj. Walford, Printers to the Royal Society, at the Prince's Arms in St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1704". Sotheby's. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
142. "Arts of the Islamic World 34 'Ali Ibn al-'Abbas al-Majusi (latinised as 'Haly Abbas', d.circa 995 AD), Kitab kamil al-sina'ah al-tibbiyah ('The Complete Book of the Medical Art'), Iraq or Western Persia, Fars, probably Shiraz, last quarter 10th Century AD". Sotheby's. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
143. "Saxton, Christopher (c. 1542-c. 1610). An Atlas of England and Wales. London: Christopheer Saxton, 1579-1590". Sotheby's. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
144. "Music and Continental Books and Manuscripts 6 Property of J.R. Ritman Copernicus, Nicolaus. De Revolutionibs Orbium Coelestium Libri VI. Nuremberg: J. Petreius, 1543". Sotheby's. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
145. "Sale 6012 : Wentworth : Lot 1: Le Fevre, Raoul (fl. 1464). Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye. Translated from French into English by William Caxton (c. 1420-1491). [Bruges:] William Caxton, [1473 or early 1474].English Literature, History, Children's Books & Illustrations : Lot 502: Lefèvre, Raoul Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye [Translated by William Caxton]. [Ghent or Bruges: David Aubert For] William Caxton, [C. 1473-74]". Christies. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
146. "First Marvel comic sets auction record of $1.3 million". The Japan Times. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
147. "The Wardington Library: Incunabula and the Wardington Hours 43 Hours of the Cross, illuminated manuscript on vellum. Paris, 1425-1435". Sotheby's. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
148. "du Châtelet, Émilie. Exposition abrégée du système du monde selon les principes de Monsieur Newton, incluse dans le second tome des Principes mathématiques de la philosophie naturelle d'Isaac Newton. Entre 1745 et 1749. Copies manuscrites de la main de plusieurs secrétaires comportant de très nombreux ajouts, becquets et corrections autographes". Christie's. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
149. "Pacioli, Luca (Lucas de Burgo S. Sepulchri; c.1445-1517). Somma di arithmetica, geometria, proporzioni e proporzionalità. Venice: Paganinus de Paganinis, 10-20 November 1494". Christie's. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
150. "Don McLean (b.1945). The complete working manuscript for the song "American Pie", with numerous revisions and unpublished deleted sections. [Cold Spring, NY and Philadelphia, PA, 1970-71]". Christie's. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
151. "Sotheby's Books & Manuscripts New York" (PDF). Sotheby's. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
152. "Fine Printed and Manuscript Americana, Including Cartography : Lot 176: The Declaration of Independence in Congress, July 4, 1776. A Declaration by the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress Assembled. … Salem, Massachusetts-Bay: Printed by E. Russell, by Order of Authority, [CA. 18–20 July 1776]". Sotheby's. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
153. "Rare French book collection sets records at auction". ABC Online. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
154. Reif, Rita. "Einstein Paper Sets Auction Record". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
155. "Valuable Books and Manuscripts : Lot 220: Smith, Adam (1723-1790). An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. London: for W. Strahan and T. Cadell, 1776". Christies. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
156. "Music and Continental Books and Manuscripts 173 Schumann, Robert. The Autograph Composing Manuscript of Szenes aus Goethe's "Faust" [WOO 3]". Sotheby's. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
157. "De la Bibliothèque Stéphane Mallarmé 163 Mallarmé, Stéphane Jamais [sic] Un Coup de Dés N'Abolira le Hasard. Maquette Autographe pour Firmin-Didot, Imprimeur d'Ambroise Vollard. [Avril ou Début Mai 1897]". Sotheby's. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
158. "Lot 38 Two folios from the Magnificent Timurid manuscript, the Nahj al-Faradis". Christie's. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
159. "Important Books, Atlases and Manuscripts: The Private Library of Kenneth Nebenzahl: Lafreri, Antonio (c.1512-1577) and Claudio Duchetti (d.1585)]. Geographia tavole moderne di geografia de la maggior parte del mondo di diverse autori raccolte et messe secondo l'ordine di Tolomeo con i disegni di molte citta et fortesse di diverse provintie stampate in rame con studio et diligenza in Roma. Rome: Pietro de Nobili, [1592]". Christie's. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
160. Gustines, George Gene. "Batman is turning 80. Fighting crime must pay". The Irish Times. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
161. "1647 Plinius Secundus, Gaius (23/24-79 AD)". Sotheby's. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
162. "Copernicus, Nicolaus (1473-1543). De revolutionibus orbium coelestium, libri VI. Nuremberg: Johann Petreius, 1543". Christie's. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
163. "Brontë, Charlotte. Second Series of the Young Men's Magazines". Sotheby's. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
164. "Rare Charlotte Bronte book coming home after museum's auction success". BBC. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
165. "Valuable Books and Manuscripts: Lot 211 Darwin, Charles Robert (1809-1882). On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life. London: W. Clowes and Son for John Murray, 1861". Christies. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
166. "Sale 2124 Lot 53 Curtis, Edward S. The North American Indian, Being a Series of Volumes Picturing and Describing the Indians of the United States and Alaska". Swann Galleries. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
167. "John Hancock, manuscript letter signed, announcing the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, 6 July 1776". Sotheby's. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
168. "Turing, Alan Mathison. 1912-1954. Composition notebook". Bonham's. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
169. "The Property of a Charitable Institution Ptolemaeus, Claudius. Cosmographia [Translated by Jacobus Angelus, Edited by Nicolaus Germanus]. Ulm: Lienhart Holle, 16 July 1482". Sotheby's. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
170. "Babe Ruth contract auctioned off". ESPN. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
171. "An Illustrated Double-Sided Bifolium from the Nahj al-Faradis: The Two Hells Reservee for Misers and Flatterers". Christie's. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
172. "Sale 6298 : Important Manuscripts & Printed Books : Lot 73: Marcel-Valentin- Louis-Eugène-Georges Proust". Christies. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
173. "Martin Waldseemüller (c.1470 - c.1522). World map in the form of a set of terrestrial globe gores. St. Dié: 1507". Christies. Retrieved 11 October 2019.

References

• Blair, Sheila, A compendium of chronicles: Rashid al-Din’s illustrated history of the world, Oxford University Press, 1995, ISBN 1-874780-65-X
• Oswald, Godfrey, Library world records, McFarland & Company, 2017 (3rd edition), ISBN 9781476667775