By Promise Eze
In a historic auction at Sotheby’s in New York, a Hebrew Bible dating back over 1,000 years has shattered records to become the most valuable manuscript ever sold.
The Codex Sassoon, regarded as “one of the most important and singular texts in human history,” fetched an astounding $38.1 million on Wednesday.
The Codex Sassoon, believed to have originated in the late 9th or early 10th century, is recognized as the earliest and most complete Hebrew Bible known to exist.
This remarkable sale surpasses the previous record-holder, Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex Leicester, which achieved a price of $30.8 million at auction in 1994, according to Sotheby’s.
Although the Codex Sassoon fell short of its estimated value of $50 million, its significance and rarity drew substantial attention. Prior to the auction, the ancient manuscript was showcased in exhibitions across the United Kingdom and Israel, further fueling anticipation and interest.
Sharon Mintz, Sotheby’s senior Judaica specialist for books and manuscripts, expressed her excitement, stating that “this is the most important document to come to auction ever.” Indeed, the Hebrew Bible serves as the foundation of three major Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, adding immeasurable cultural and historical value to the Codex Sassoon.
Believed to have been meticulously crafted between 880 and 960, the Codex Sassoon obtained its name in 1929 when it was acquired by David Solomon Sassoon.
As the son of an Iraqi Jewish business magnate, Sassoon passionately collected Jewish manuscripts and adorned his London residence with his treasured collection.
Following his passing, Sassoon’s estate was dispersed, and the biblical codex found its way to Sotheby’s in Zurich in 1978, where it was sold to the British Rail Pension Fund for approximately $320,000 (equivalent to $1.4 million today).
Eleven years later, the pension fund parted with the Codex Sassoon, selling it to Jacqui Safra, a prominent banker and art collector, in 1989 for $3.19 million (equivalent to $7.7 million today). Safra, who had been the custodian of this priceless artifact, decided to present it to the world at the recent auction.
