I WANT TO KNOW #3 - The most expensive books in history - Part II
5."First film "William Shakespeare - $ 6 milion
The price of the original collection of Shakespeare's plays was only one pound, but today the preserved copies are among the most valuable books in the world. It is believed that there are only 228 left (from the initial 750). In 2001, Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen, buys one copy for $ 6,166,000 in New York.
4."Canterbury stories, "Jeffrey Chaucer - $ 7.5 million
Canterbury Stories is a collection of stories written by Jeffrey Chauser in the 14th century. According to the original design, the stories had to be 120, but Chaucer failed to reach that number. The book is unique in that it is the first one created in spoken English, not the Latin and French ones used for work. This is also one of the first books printed by William Caxton's printing machine in 1478.
The first edition was sold in London in 1998. For $ 7.5 million. Of a dozen remaining copies, this is the last in a private collection and was originally bought for 6 pounds in 1776.
3."Birds on America, "James Odubun - $ 11.5 milion
In 2000, one of the 119 copies of America's Birds Preserved today sold for $ 8 million. Ten years later, another first edition was sold in London for $ 11.5 million - the world's most expensive printed book sold at a public auction. Odubun has presented 435 tables with 1065 bird drawings.
2."The gospel on Heinrich Leo "- $ 11.7 milion
Originally commissioned by Heinrich Leo for the altar of Our Lady at Braunschweig Cathedral, this gospel was purchased by the German government in 1983. For $ 11.7 million. It has 266 pages, including 50 with illustrations, and is considered to be an unsurpassed work of art from the 12th century.
1."Leicester Code, "Leonardo Yes Vinci - $ 30.8 milion
Leonardo's most famous scientific work, 72 pages, complete with the ideas and theories of the great inventor - from fossils to water movement and what makes the moon shine.
The code dates back to 1500 and is special because it is written in a mirror. In order to be read, it should be seen in a mirror.
The manuscript was purchased in 1717. By Tomak Koke, who later became Earl of Leicester, and then in 1980. Falls into the hands of collector Armand Hamer. Finally, in 1994, Bil Geyts gets a code at auction for $ 30 800 000, with which it became the most expensive book in the world.
Bill Gates, however, does not save the book for himself. He scans it and turns it into a screensaver distributed with Microsoft Plus! For Windows 95.