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Most Expensive Books in the World

Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP Photo

Humans have been telling stories and sharing thoughts through printed works for thousands of years. Some of those books — if they manage to survive — are worth millions of dollars. 

But what books are worth the most money? These are the most expensive books in the world.

40. Wycliffe New Testament

Wycliffe New Testament
Bkwillwm / Wikimedia Commons

Original price: $1.69 million

Year sold: 2016

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.14 million

Note: Sale prices are adjusted for inflation in 2023 dollars, and rankings are based on the inflation-adjusted prices. We did not include books that were solely made of art. For example, “The Lilies” sold for $5.5 million in 1985, but the volumes were made of individual watercolors and later divided among investors. However, we did include books that were sold because of their art. 

Why the Wycliffe New Testament Is So Expensive

John Wycliffe reading his translation of the bible to John of Gaunt
Mefusbren69 / Wikimedia Commons

Wycliffe’s Bible is the name not of a single book, but rather a collection of biblical translations made by John Wycliffe. He wrote them between 1382 and 1395, and they were so influential they inspired an entire religious movement called the Lollard movement. 

This copy of the translated New Testament was written on vellum, and was previously owned by Alexander Peckover and Apsley Cherry-Garrard. There isn’t another book like it in the world.

39.The Watsons

The Watsons manuscript
Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Original price: $1.69 million

Year sold: 2011

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.3 million

Why the Watsons Is So Expensive

The Watsons manucript

This novel by Jane Austen was begun around 1803 and never finished. She abandoned the project after her father’s death in early 1805.

“The Watsons” is only about 17,500 words long, although others have tried to finish it over the years. Upon Austen’s death, it was given to her sister, Cassandra, who passed it onto other family members.

It was sold through Sotheby’s to the Bodleian Library at Oxford.