Sotheby's (London)

(28 cm), 77 (1) pp., illustrations (some in colour). 1 lot. Publisher’s printed wrappers. - The manuscript realised £8,140,000 and was the most expensive book in the world until 11 November 1994, when the Codex Leicester, a manuscript by Leonardo da Vinci, was sold by Christie’s in New York for $30,802,500. “Prophecies of unknown new bidders proved false; the contest was between traditional foes and the outcome was victory for Germany, in the shape of Mr [Hermann] Abs, bidding through Quaritch and Kraus (a temporary measure of extreme convenience). The knockout between Berlin, Munich and Wolfenbüttel now follows” (from a saleroom report in The Book Collector, Spring 1984, pp.91-92). The manuscript is kept in the Herzog August Bibliothek in Wolfenbüttel. ¶ “This book is printed in a limited edition of 225 numbered copies only, of which this is no. 81”. Excellent, unmarked copy.