World’s most expensive book sells for $14 million

A tiny psalm book from 1640 has became the world’s most expensive book ever printed after it went under the hammer for just over $14 million at a New York auction on Tuesday evening.

The book was bought by U.S. businessman and philanthropist David Rubenstein, who plans to lend it to libraries around the country. Its presale estimate was $15 million to $30 million.

"The Bay Psalm Book" is a translation of Biblical psalms and was printed by Puritan settlers in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Act of rebellion

Printed as an act of rebellion against the Church of England by the puritan settlers just 20 years after the sailing of the Mayflower, it is the first manuscript to have been written or printed in what is now the United States of America. Many argue that the book sowed the seeds for American independence.

It was sold at a one-lot auction by Sotheby's and was one of two copies held by Boston’s Old South Church.

Only 11 of the 1,700 copies of the original edition have survived, but are in varying degrees of completeness.

A copy of John James Audubon’s “Birds of America” was the previous record-holder. It sold for $11.5 million at Sotheby’s in 2010.

- France24.com