Many of us complain about the price of books , but maybe we should change our mind in view of what can cost one of these that we present. 5 Of the most expensive books in the world . Will not you have one at home?
5 Of the most expensive books in the world
Most of the most expensive books in the world They are old books, but there is also a modern one.
The Gutenberg Bible
The first book that came out of Johannes Gutenberg's printing was a prayer book that he printed as proof, the second was a Bible; it is known as "The Gutenberg Bible" . Although the sacred book is one of the most published in the world, the copies of that first edition are very rare. At present only the existence of 48 copies of that first print of the year 1450 is known.
In the last auction, a copy of the Gutenberg Bible was sold for 5'4 million dollars.
The "First Folio"
It is known as "First Folio" the book that was the first publication of 36 plays by William Shakespeare. Its original title was " Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories and Tragedies " . It was published in 1623, 7 years after the death of the English playwright and of the 750 copies that were made only 228 remain.
In 2001, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen bought a copy at an auction at Christie's and paid for it 6'2 million dollars.
Bay Psalm Book
The value of this book is not because of its content, but because it is the first book printed in English in the British colonies that would later become the US Its translated title is "Book of Psalms of the Bay" and saw the light in 1640.
It was printed in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and 11 copies have survived to this day. Most of them are in possession of libraries and universities, but in 2013 a copy went on sale at Sotheby's and was bought by the American businessman David Rubenstein for 14'2 million dollars.
The tales of Beedle the Bard
In 2008 the novel was published J.K. Rowling "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" . The author finalized it in 2007 and made 7 copies handwritten and illustrated by herself . 6 of these copies went to people close to them and who trusted in the success of the Harry Potter novels. The seventh was auctioned in order to obtain income for a children's foundation. It was sold at an auction by Sotheby's in 2007 for 1'9 million pounds sterling.
In 2016 the publisher Barry Cunningham auctioned his original, also for charity and obtained the amount of £ 368,750 . It is not the most expensive book in history, but it is the one written and published in the 21st century for which more money has been paid.
The Leicester Codex
Leonardo da Vinci he was the author of Codex Leicester or Hammer Codex. It has 72 pages with notes and theories of the genius of the Renaissance. It owes its name to that in the eighteenth century the Earl of Leicester, Thomas Coke, bought it. The family kept it for more than 200 years, but in 1980 it was acquired by the American businessman Armand Hammer, who in turn sold it to Bill Gates.
Bill Gates paid 30'8 million dollars and so that everyone could enjoy his purchase he scanned it and its sheets became a screensaver for Windows 95.
What do you think about the prices that can reach some of the most expensive books in the world ? Maybe in your library you have a copy of great value, even if it does not become one of the most expensive books in the world . If you have been interested in this post, you may want to read: The first book with illustrations for children in the story. Did you know him?