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Record price for Codex Sassoon

Exactly four minutes. That's how fast the auction hammer fell for the Codex Sassoon. Not surprising when you consider that this is the oldest and most complete religious manuscript in the world. And of course the price of this "Auction Gem" is accordingly.
Ardon Bar-Hama

Sotheby's claims it is one of the most influential books in human history. Comprising 792 pages, the Codex Sassoon has long been one of the cornerstones of civilizations and communities around the world. The 30.5 cm by 35.5 cm, 12-pound tome from the early 10th century is missing only 12 pages. This makes it the oldest and most complete Hebrew Bible in the world. 

In total, the manuscript consists of the 24 books of the Torah, Neviim and Ketuvim. Together they make up the Tenach. 

Free to the public

The Codex Sassoon was eventually purchased by Ambassador Alfred H. Moses on behalf of the organization American Friends of ANU. As a result, the book will not gather dust in a private collection, but will remain freely accessible to the general public. At the ANU Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv, the sacred book will henceforth grace the collection. 

The Hebrew Bible fetched €35 million in New York. This record price surpasses the amount from the sale of Leonardo Da Vinci's Codex Leicester, which went under the hammer for about €28.6 million in 1994.

© Sotheby's