Some books aren’t just rare—they’re worth fortunes. These literary treasures have fetched millions at auction. Their pages hold stories beyond their printed words, whether for their historical impact, artistic brilliance, or scientific breakthroughs. If you’ve ever wondered what the world’s wealthiest are quietly collecting, here are ten books that redefine the meaning of expensive.
Codex Leicester
Leonardo da Vinci compiled this notebook in the early 1500s, capturing theories about rivers, fossils, in addition to celestial light. In 1994, Bill Gates paid $30.8 million for it. The pages combine sketches and mirror-scripted musings that offer a glimpse into da Vinci’s evolving mind.
Bay Psalm Book
The modest-looking Bay Psalm Book is the first book created in colonial America and printed in 1640. When David Rubenstein acquired a copy for $14.2 million, he preserved the key artifact of early American printing. It reflects the cultural and religious priorities of the time.
First Folio
Without this 1623 collection, many of Shakespeare’s plays might have disappeared. Nearly 400 years later, a complete copy reached $9.98 million at auction. The historic book preserves his stage directions and original words, which safeguard the essence of a literary masterpiece whose impact goes beyond money.
Birds Of America
Audubon’s Birds of America features detailed, hand-colored illustrations that capture bird species with remarkable accuracy. An exclusive copy sold for over $11 million. More than art or science, it offers a visual record of birds, some now extinct, that once filled the skies.
De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium
Copernicus published the heliocentric model in 1543. His challenge to the geocentric view rewrote astronomy. An antiquated first edition fetched $2.2 million. Even centuries later, collectors recognize the impact of placing the sun, not Earth, at the center of the cosmos.
The Magna Carta
Only a few copies of this 1215 document exist, and one was auctioned for $21.3 million in 2007 to David Rubenstein. Considered a legal relic, the Magna Carta symbolizes democracy’s origins and the clauses that shaped modern laws. Owning one is like holding a piece of constitutional history.
Rothschild Prayerbook
Flanders features gold-leaf decoration and ornate religious imagery in this illuminated manuscript from the 16th century. The deal was closed for $13.4 million largely due to its condition and ownership history. Once part of the Rothschild family archive, it remains a pinnacle of devotional craftsmanship.
The Book of Mormon
An early manuscript of this religious text sold for $35 million in 2017. The value of this holy script lies in its cultural and theological significance. Church of the Latter-day Saints reclaimed it as a vital piece of their heritage.
Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica
Newton’s scientific work from 1687 explains the laws of motion and gravity. The first edition went for a whopping $3.7 million. Collectors value this book for its influence. Bound in calfskin, this book marked a turning point in how the world was measured and understood.
The Gutenberg Bible
The world’s first major book printed with movable type changed publishing forever. A single copy sold for $5.4 million in 1987, but individual pages have secured up to $100,000 each. This bible’s impact signaled a shift that made books and ideas accessible far beyond monasteries and royal courts.
