The Book of Mormon
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) has purchased the printer's copy of the Book of Mormon for $35 million (£26 million), establishing what is thought to be a new world record for the most expensive manuscript ever sold.
As per the LDS-owned publication the Deseret News, the booklet is a handwritten replica of the original text dictated by Joseph Smith. The Mormon church obtained it from the Community of Christ, a religion founded by early Mormons and originally known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which likewise regards the scripture as holy. The Community of Christ publicized the selling price, claiming The Book of Mormon was the most ever paid for a manuscript, surpassing Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates's $30.8 million 1994 purchase of Leonardo da Vinci's Codex Leicester.
"As far as I am aware, it is possibly the benchmark for a manuscript," stated Mark James of Bernard Quaritch, an antique bookshop. "However, $31 million from 1994 would be significantly more valuable now."
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Price at launch: $35 million
Published by: Joseph Smith
