Books & Manuscripts

Who holds the record for the most expensive work of art, Books & Manuscripts to go under the hammer, rather than to be sold privately?

Sold for: USD Title & Year: Image: Author: Auction house: Sale date: Seller: Buyer:
USD 30.8 million Codex Leicester. Codex Hammer; 1510 Florence, Italy, Italian, 72 pages Leonardo da Vinci Codex Leicester 1510 Leonardo da Vinci Christie's auction November 1994 Estate of Armand Hammer Bill Gates
USD 21.3 million Magna Carta Libertatum; 1297 Magna Carta 1215 John, King of England, his barons and Stephen Langton Sotheby's, New York December 2007 Brudenells of Northamptonshire, England David Rubenstein
USD 14.3 million St Cuthbert Gospel; Stonyhurst Gospel; St Cuthbert Gospel of St John; written in Latin St Cuthbert Gospel Gospel, 7th century Private sale April 2012 British province of the Jesuit order British Library
USD 14.2 million Bay Psalm Book 1640; First book printed in what is now the United States. Bay Psalm Book 1640 Psalm Sotheby's auction November 2013 Boston's Old South Church American financier and philanthropist David Rubenstein
USD 13.6 million Rothschild Prayerbook 1500-1520 Rothschild Prayerbook 1500-1520 Prayerbook Christie's New York January 2014 Rothschild banking dynasty Australian businessman Kerry Stokes
USD 13.4 million Gospels of Henry the Lion 1175; the volume is considered a masterpiece of Romanesque book illumination of the 12th century Order of Saint Benedict Sotheby's in London December 1983 Anonymous owner West German consortium
USD 11.5 million The Birds of America 1827-1838; the work consists of hand-coloured, life-size prints, made from engraved plates, measuring around 99x66cm John James Audubon - The Birds of America 1827-1838 John James Audubon Sotheby's London December 2010 Manuscripts and Drawings from the Collection of Frederick, Second Lord Hesketh London-based art dealer Michael Tollemache
USD 8.8 million The Birds of America 1827-1838; the work consists of hand-coloured, life-size prints, made from engraved plates, measuring around 99x66cm John James Audubon - The Birds of America 1827-1838 John James Audubon Christie's, New York March 2000 Anonymous owner Sheikh Saud Al-Thani of Qatar
USD 7.9 million The Birds of America 1827-1838; the work consists of hand-coloured, life-size prints, made from engraved plates, measuring around 99x66cm John James Audubon - The Birds of America 1827-1838 John James Audubon Christie's, New York January 2012 Fourth Duke of Portland American collector who bid by phone
USD 7.5 million The Canterbury Tales 1478 First printed edition; Geoffrey Chaucer The Canterbury Tales 1478 First printed edition; Geoffrey Chaucer Geoffrey Chaucer Christie's London 8 July 1998 Anonymous owner Billionaire philanthropist Sir Paul Getty