Books & manuscripts: the 25 most expensive books

Ranking based on prices as of November 1, 2026 (source: Wikipedia), from most to least expensive, in US dollars. Updated daily.

1. 1

   United States Constitution

   Founding Fathers of the United States at the… · 1787

   $43.2M
2. 2

   Letters from Zhao Mengfu to his friend Guo Tianxi

   Zhao Mengfu · 1254

   $38.2M
3. 3

   Codex Sassoon 1053

   –

   $38.1M
4. 4

   Book of Mormon

   Joseph Smith · 1830

   $35M
5. 5

   Letter from Zeng Gong to his friend (júshì tiè 局事帖)

   Zeng Gong

   $31.7M
6. 6

   Codex Leicester

   Leonardo da Vinci

   $30.8M
7. 7

   Magna Carta

   – · 1297

   $21.3M
8. 8

   Sherborne Missal

   –

   $21.2M
9. 9

   "Book of Tang in detailed sections with glosses by 'Stone Wall…

   Ouyang Xiu (comp.), Chén Jiàn 陳鑒 (ed.)

   $17.1M
10. 10

    St Cuthbert Gospel

    –

    $14.3M
11. 11

    Bay Psalm Book

    – · 1640

    $14.2M
12. 12

    Rothschild Prayerbook

    –

    $13.6M
13. 13

    Einstein-Besso manuscript

    Albert Einstein, Michele Besso

    $13.2M
14. 14

    Illustrated folio from the Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp

    Ferdowsi

    $12.2M
15. 15

    Original typeset scroll of first draft of Jack Kerouac's On the Road.

    Jack Kerouac · 1951

    $12.1M
16. 16

    Gospels of Henry the Lion

    Order of Saint Benedict · 1175

    $11.7M
17. 17

    The Birds of America

    John James Audubon · 1827

    $11.6M
18. 18

    Waldseemüller map

    Martin Waldseemüller · 1507

    $10M
19. 19

    Mr

    William Shakespeare · 1623

    $9.98M
20. 20

    Acts of Congress

    – · 1789

    $9.83M
21. 21

    Babylonian Talmud

    – · 1519

    $9.32M
22. 22

    Yongle Encyclopedia ()

    – · 1567

    $9.19M
23. 23

    Superman #1

    Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster · 1939

    $9.12M
24. 24

    Histoire de ma vie

    Giacomo Casanova · 1789

    $9.06M
25. 25

    "The Olympic Manifesto"

    Pierre de Coubertin · 1892

    $8.8M