1. The Codex Leicester by Leonardo da Vinci ($30.8 million)
Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex Leicester is not only one of the most expensive books in the world, but also one of the most famous. This 72-page notebook, filled with da Vinci’s handwritten musings and sketches, was purchased by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates at a 1994 auction.
2. The Magna Carta ($21.3 million)
The Magna Carta, one of the most important documents in the history of democracy, was sold in 2007 for a staggering $21.3 million. This historical document, which dates back to 1215, established the principle that everyone, including the king, is subject to the law.
3. The Gospels of Henry the Lion ($11.7 million)
The Gospels of Henry the Lion, a 12th-century manuscript, was auctioned off at Sotheby’s in London in 1983. This beautifully illuminated book, which was commissioned by Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony, fetched a price of $11.7 million.
4. The Rothschild Prayerbook ($13.4 million)
This beautifully illuminated manuscript, once owned by the Rothschild family, was sold at auction in 2014 for $13.4 million. The 16th-century book features stunning illustrations and miniatures.
5. The Bay Psalm Book ($14.2 million)
The first book printed in what would become the United States, The Bay Psalm Book, sold for $14.2 million in 2013. This book, a translation of the Psalms, was published in 1640 by the Puritan leaders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
6. St Cuthbert Gospel ($14.3 million)
The St Cuthbert Gospel, a 7th-century manuscript that is the oldest surviving European book with its original binding, was purchased by the British Library in 2012 for $14.3 million.
7. Birds of America by John James Audubon ($11.5 million)
One of the most famous natural history books ever produced, Birds of America by John James Audubon, was sold at auction in 2010 for $11.5 million. This book features 435 life-sized illustrations of birds, all hand-painted by Audubon.
8. The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer ($7.5 million)
A first edition of The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer was sold at auction in 1998 for $7.5 million. This 15th-century book is one of the most important works in English literature.
9. First Folio by William Shakespeare ($6.2 million)
A copy of the First Folio by William Shakespeare, which includes 36 of his plays, was sold at auction in 2001 for $6.2 million. This 17th-century book is one of the most important collections of plays in the English language.
10. The Gutenberg Bible ($5.4 million)
A copy of the Gutenberg Bible, the first major book printed using mass-produced movable metal type in Europe, was sold in 1987 for $5.4 million. This 15th-century book marked the start of the age of the printed book in the West.