The Most Expensive Bible: What Sold for $38.1 Million and Why It Matters

What is the most expensive Bible ever sold? I get this question a lot, and I do not guess. I look at public auction records. The headline answer is simple. The most expensive Bible is Codex Sassoon, a near-complete Hebrew Bible that sold for $38.1 million at Sotheby’s New York in May 2023.

This sale matters if you care about history, faith, books, or investing. It shows how a rare manuscript can unite scholarship, story, and market demand. In this guide, I walk through the top sale, give context from other record prices, and explain what drives value. 

I also share easy ways to see great Bibles in person, or collect on a smaller budget without taking big risks.Ready for a quick, clear tour? Let’s start with the winner.

What Is the Most Expensive Bible Ever Sold?

Codex Sassoon is the most expensive Bible ever sold, at $38.1 million in 2023.

It is one of the oldest, most complete Hebrew Bibles known. Scholars care because it preserves the Masoretic text, the standard Hebrew text used for centuries. It bridges oral tradition and written form in a single volume.

It now belongs to the ANU Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv. A donor purchased it and gifted it to the museum so the public can see it.

Fast facts on Codex Sassoon (price, date, and sale details)

• Sale price: $38.1 million with fees

• Auction: Sotheby’s New York, May 17, 2023

• Buyer: Alfred H. Moses and family, for the ANU Museum of the Jewish People (Tel Aviv)

• Date: Late 9th to early 10th century

• Language: Hebrew

• Content: A near-complete Hebrew Bible, with the Masoretic text

Why this Hebrew Bible is so valuable

• It is nearly complete, which is extremely rare for its age.

• It dates to the early medieval period, so it is very early.

• It carries the Masoretic text, the base text for Jewish and many Christian traditions.

• It has strong provenance, with a known chain of owners.

• It was widely exhibited, so scholars and the public know it well.

• Demand was intense, with global press and serious bidders.

Where it is now and how to see it

The manuscript resides with the ANU Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv. Exhibitions rotate, so check the museum’s website for current display plans before you book. High quality images and past exhibition materials are also available online, which makes it easy to study from anywhere.

Other Record Sales: Gutenberg Bible, St. Cuthbert Gospel, and More

Codex Sassoon set a towering mark, but other sales help round out the picture. Some are complete Bibles. Some are single books of the Bible. Some are early printed sacred texts that shaped culture. All have strong stories that pull collectors in.

Gutenberg Bible price history and why it still matters

The Gutenberg Bible, printed around 1455, is the first major book printed with movable type in Europe. It changed how books spread and how people read.

A landmark auction record came in 1987, when a copy sold for about $5.4 million. That price shocked the market at the time. Complete copies almost never come up. Today, single leaves and fragments still sell well. Depending on the content and condition, a leaf can range from tens of thousands to over $100,000.

Demand stays high because this book marks the start of mass printing in the West. Collectors value its design, history, and role in the spread of scripture.

The St. Cuthbert Gospel sale (£9 million) and early Gospel books

The St. Cuthbert Gospel is an early 8th century Latin Gospel of John. It is not a full Bible. Even so, it ranks among the most important early Christian books.

In 2012, the British Library acquired it for £9 million. It is prized for its age, its remarkable state of preservation, and its link to St. Cuthbert and monastic history. Its original binding survived for more than a thousand years, which is rare and powerful.

Bay Psalm Book at $14.2 million, and how it fits the story

The Bay Psalm Book is not a Bible. It is a metrical psalter, printed in 1640, and the first book printed in British North America. In 2013, one copy sold for $14.2 million.

Why does it matter here? Because early printed sacred texts can set major records. Scarcity, cultural identity, and national history can push prices very high, even when the book is not a full Bible.

Priceless icons that do not sell (Book of Kells, Dead Sea Scrolls)

Some famous biblical manuscripts never trade at auction. They are held by universities, national libraries, or museums. The Book of Kells at Trinity College Dublin is one example. The Dead Sea Scrolls are another, held by institutions like the Israel Antiquities Authority and shown at the Shrine of the Book in Jerusalem.

You may see rumors of private sales of major scrolls. These stories are rare, disputed, or involve fragments with complex histories. If you want to see the real thing, go to the museum or view authorized digital images.

A quick snapshot of headline prices

Item	Type	Date Sold	Price	Why It Matters
Codex Sassoon	Near-complete Hebrew Bible	May 17, 2023	$38.1 million	Early Masoretic text, near-complete, public gift
Gutenberg Bible (copy)	Early printed Bible	1987	~$5.4 million	First major moveable type book in Europe
St. Cuthbert Gospel	Gospel of John, Latin	2012	£9 million	Early date, original binding, monastic story
Bay Psalm Book	Metrical psalter	2013	$14.2 million	First book printed in British North America

What Makes a Bible Worth Millions?

Big prices are not random. They follow a pattern. The same core factors show up again and again.

Age, completeness, and condition

Earlier copies are usually rarer. A complete copy beats a fragment. Clean pages, strong bindings, and wide margins all bring higher prices. Missing leaves, heavy repairs, stains, or cut margins lower value fast.

An early Bible with all its parts intact will outrun a later copy with damage. Condition tells buyers how well the book survived and how much was changed over time.

Provenance and historical ties

A clear chain of ownership helps. If a book was owned by a known scholar, a famous collector, a royal library, or a noted monastery, the value can rise. Stamps, notes, and records help track that story.

Provenance adds trust and energy to a sale. It ties the object to people and places that matter. It can also prevent legal disputes.

Format and materials: vellum, paper, illumination, bindings

Material matters. Vellum copies often bring more than paper. Rich illumination can add a lot of value, since art, gold leaf, and color raise the visual impact. Original or notable bindings help too. 

A binding by a known workshop, or a cover with historic metalwork, can tip the scale.

Buyers also look at size and layout. Folios, with large pages, often do better than tiny formats, all else equal.

Rarity, demand, and auction timing

When only a few top examples exist, every sale counts. Fresh-to-market copies, with strong press and public interest, tend to draw more bids. Broad buyer pools and a strong economy can lift prices.

The right timing can add millions. If two major collectors want the same item, the final price can jump.

How I Would See or Collect Without Spending a Fortune

You do not need a private jet or a nine figure fund to enjoy this field. You can see world-class pieces and build a small collection with care.

Visit museums, libraries, and online galleries

Start with public institutions. The ANU Museum of the Jewish People, the British Library, the Library of Congress, and major university libraries host great exhibits. Many have digitized Bibles with free viewers. 

You can zoom in on bindings, inks, and marginal notes from home.Plan ahead. Exhibits rotate, and special loans can be time-limited. Sign up for museum newsletters, so you do not miss a rare show.

Start small with leaves, facsimiles, and fine press editions

You can own a slice of history without breaking the bank.

• Single leaves from older printed Bibles can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand, based on content and condition. Leaves with the Ten Commandments or the opening of Genesis often cost more.

• Quality facsimiles of major manuscripts offer near one-to-one detail. Some publishers produce fine replicas of the Gutenberg Bible, with careful photography and accurate paper or vellum substitutes.

• The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition, a modern hand-written and illuminated project, is available to institutions and serious collectors. It is not cheap, but it offers a museum-level experience.

When judging a facsimile, look for accurate color, sharp detail, and clear notes on how it was made. Poor scans and dull paper suggest a lower grade product.

Buy safely with trusted sellers and auction houses

Use established auction houses like Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and Bonhams. Work with dealers who are members of ABAA or ILAB. Ask for condition reports, provenance, and return policies.

Do not rush. If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Fakes and misdescribed items appear online, especially in private listings.

Care, storage, and insurance basics

Protect what you buy. Keep books in a stable room, with mild temperature and humidity. Store away from sunlight. Use acid-free housings and sleeves. Handle with clean hands or cotton gloves if the item is fragile. If your piece has real value, talk to your insurer about a rider for rare books.

Why This Field Captures People

High prices make headlines. The deeper pull is the link to language, faith, and memory. A great Bible holds the words that shaped cultures, plus the marks of the people who copied, printed, read, and saved it. 

Marginal notes, bookplates, bindings, even water stains, all tell stories.Collectors do not just buy a text. They buy a witness to time. You can share in that story without paying millions, by seeing these works in person, or by owning a small, honest piece.

Common Myths I Hear, Answered Quickly

• Only complete Bibles are valuable: Not true. Early Gospel books, psalters, and single books of the Bible can be very valuable if rare, early, or well preserved.

• Age alone sets the price: Age helps, but condition, completeness, and provenance often matter more.

• All leaves are the same: Content matters. A famous passage, a decorated initial, or a title page can change value by a lot.

• Museums hide everything: Many institutions display highlights on rotation and offer high quality digital access.

Practical Steps If You Want To Get Started

• Set a budget, even if it is small. Decide if you want a leaf, a 19th century family Bible, or a modern fine press edition.

• Read a short guide on rare book collecting. Many auction houses post free primers.

• Visit a dealer and look at items in person. Learn how to read a condition report.

• Keep a simple spreadsheet for purchases, receipts, and provenance notes.

How to Talk About These Books With Friends and

Family

If you want to share your interest, try simple, human hooks.

• Focus on one story, like how the first printed Bible changed everything.

• Show a great image, like a Gutenberg leaf with a red and blue initial.

• Ask a question, such as: Which would you prefer, a perfect modern Bible or a fragile page from a 500-year-old one?

Stories and questions make people care more than prices.

Responsible Collecting and Cultural Sensitivity

These books carry deep meaning. Treat them with respect. Buy from ethical sources. Keep good records. If a piece seems tied to a troubled past, ask hard questions. Responsible collecting keeps the field healthy and open for years to come.

The Role of Technology

High resolution imaging, spectral analysis, and digital catalogs changed research and collecting. You can compare scripts, inks, and bindings across thousands of examples in minutes. This helps spot fakes, track provenance, and plan purchases.

Digital access also expands the audience. A student far from a major library can still study a top-tier manuscript. That is good for scholarship and for care.

A Few More Notable Items To Watch

• Early English Bibles, like Tyndale New Testament fragments, often draw strong bidding due to their role in translation history.

• Sixteenth century folio Bibles with original bindings, clean paper, and wide margins still see steady demand.

• Deluxe modern fine press Bibles with strong design sometimes appreciate, especially in short print runs.

None of these will match Codex Sassoon, but they show where interest flows.

Conclusion

The headline is clear. The most expensive Bible is Codex Sassoon, a near-complete Hebrew Bible that sold for $38.1 million in 2023. Prices catch the eye, but the deeper value is the link to faith, language, art, and the lives of readers across time.

You can see these treasures in person or online this year. Plan a visit to a major library or museum, or sign up for auction alerts if collecting calls to you. Start small, buy wisely, and enjoy the stories these books carry.