List of most expensive books and manuscripts
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 autograph manuscript of J. K. Rowling's The Tales of Beedle the Bard.
Other books featured multiple times on the list are the First Folio of Shakespeare's plays with five separate copies and five separate broadside printings of the United States Declaration of Independence, the Gutenberg Bible and The North American Indian with four separate copies each, three copies of De revolutionibus orbium coelestium, 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 Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica, Hortus Eystettensis, Geographia Cosmographia and William Caxton's English translation of Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye have also been repeatedly sold.
Notebook comprising a collection of scientific writings by Leonardo da Vinci, in his own hand.
Two letters, sold as a set from Yuan dynasty artist Zhao Mengfu to his friend Printer's manuscript.
Believed to be the only surviving original work by the Song dynasty scholar; written on the back of a sheet of paper used for woodblock printing.
Pocket gospel book that was buried with Saint Cuthbert (d. 687), removed from his coffin in 1104 and kept at Durham Cathedral.
George Washington's personal copy of a printed edition of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, with annotations in his own hand.
Pierre de Coubertin's 14-page autograph manuscript for his 1892 speech outlining his vision for a modern revival of the ancient Olympic Games.
Copy originally owned by George Lane Fox (1793–1848) and subsequently by John Crichton-Stuart, 4th Marquess of Bute 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).
Illuminated Ashkenazi Jewish prayer book previously owned by Samuel David Luzzatto and the Alliance Israélite Universelle Dunlap broadside #23.
Previously owned by Edmond de Rothschild and Arthur A. Houghton Jr. Illuminated chivalric romance on vellum originally owned by Louis de Gruuthuse and subsequently by Louis XII of France and William Cavendish 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.
Letter explaining "the secret of life" written more than a month before the public announcement of the discovery of DNA First appearance of Superman First issue of the first Superman comic book series, owned by Tony Arnold Joe Shuster Previously owned by the Dukes of Northumberland.
This copy painted between 1804 and 1809 An illuminated missal owned by Cardinal Marco Cornaro (1482–1524) and subsequently by Nathaniel Meyer von Rothschild (1836–1905) Official William J.
Stone copy of the Declaration of Independence presented in 1824 to signer Charles Carroll of Carrollton Autograph manuscript by the composer of symphonies 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30.
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.
Originally owned by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach and subsequently by Breitkopf and Alfred Henry Huth Letter from Washington to his nephew arguing in support of the adoption of the proposed U.S. Constitution Illuminated gospel book, probably produced at the Benedictine abbey at Metz for a member of the Carolingian dynasty, perhaps Queen Theutberga.
Storyboard for an unproduced film based on the 1965 science fiction novel Dune by Frank Herbert Illuminated breviary originally owned by William Monypenny.
Letter written by Einstein to his friend Eric Gutkind explaining his religious beliefs Limited edition copy on Japan vellum signed by Curtis An album amicorum (book of friendship) comprising paintings and drawing by many different artists, collected by Philipp Hainhofer between 1596 and 1633.
One of the earliest quranic manuscripts known Copy signed by Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) and various members of Congress.
Previously owned by Archer Milton Huntington (1870–1955) and the Hispanic Society of America Autograph manuscript by the composer.
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.
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.
Broadside printed by John Rogers based on the Pennsylvania Evening Post Handwritten working lyrics by Bob Dylan Autograph manuscript by the composer Book of hours originally owned by Galeazzo Maria Sforza, and subsequently by William Waldorf Astor Almost complete manuscript on vellum, produced in North Africa or the Middle East.
Newton's autograph manuscript revisions to three sections of the first edition of the Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica.
Commissioned by Algernon Percy, 4th Duke of Northumberland Autograph manuscript of chapter of Ulysses with additions, revisions and reworkings by Joyce in the margins.
Previously owned by Baha' al-Din al-'Amili First printed atlas of England and Wales and set of five maps and plates illustrating Drake's expedition to the West Indies, 1585-1586.
Illuminated manuscript on vellum original owned by John, Duke of Berry and subsequently by Beatrice of Portugal and Henry Pomeroy, 2nd Viscount Harberton.
Portfolio and Volumes 1–16 Manuscript letter signed by Hancock as President of Congress First edition of the complete works of Plato in any language.
First Ulm edition Signed by Ruth, Ban Johnson and Harry Frazee The Two Hells reserved for Misers and Flatterers First galley proofs of "Du côté de chez Swann".
