Back in August, we reported that a first-edition copy of The Book of Mormon went up for auction with Heritage Auctions. It was one of 5,000 copies that were printed by the E.B. Grandin press in 1830. Pomeroy Tucker, foreman of the press, owned this recent copy of the book.
Reports show that the book sold for $100,000 on a $70,000 estimation.
Previous copies that went up for auction also sold well. A first-edition went for $45,000 in 2014 at the Printed & Manuscript Americana auction. Another went for $52,000 at an auction at the Swann Auction Galleries in Manhattan in New York City.
Still, this most recent book that sold for $100,000 isn’t the highest price that the book has sold for in the past. Back in 2007, a first-edition copy sold for close to $180,000.
"You never know what will happen at auctions," Rebecca Weiss, a media relations representative for Swann Galleries, told the Deseret News. "We had multiple interested parties competing for the same lots. When that happens, who knows what things will sell for."
But the Book of Mormon isn’t the only book that’s been sold for a high price during an auction. Here’s a look at eight other books that have sold well in auctions that you may not know about.
“Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” by JK Rowling
Last month, first-edition copies of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” sold in the U.K. went up for auction for high prices. According to Time magazine, one edition was expected to sell for $33,000 at an auction at London’s Bonhams Fine Books and Manuscripts.
That’s because these copies include a typo where the phrase “1 wand” is included twice on a list in the story.
“Birds of America” by John James Audubon
In 2010, a copy of this book sold at an auction for $11.5 million — making it one of the most valuable books in the world, according to FlavorWire. In fact, five copies of this book made the list of most expensive books ever sold, as The Economist reported.
“Les Liliacees” by Pierre-Joseph Redoute
This collection of poetry has a pretty hefty price. According to The Economist, the book sold for $5 million at an auction in 1985.
The Bible, in Latin
Yes, the Bible is a valuable book, especially one printed in Latin. According to The Economist, a Bible in Latin that was printed between the years of 1450 and 1455 sold for $4.9 million at an auction in 1987.
“Codex Leicester” by Leonardo da Vinci
As Forbes reported, this book sold for $49.4 million in 1994 when Bill Gates bought it at an auction.
“Codex Leicester” is a book full of scientific notes and thoughts from da Vinci.
Magna Carta
It’s not often that you see the Magna Carta up for sale. But in 2007, a copy sold for $24.5 million when Ross Perot sold it to David Rubenstein, the founder of the Carlyle Group, according to Forbes.
“Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll
It’s not surprising that Alice’s story would sell so well, given that it’s become a staple for children’s books and has inspired a number of films, both animated and live action.
As The Economist reported, Carroll’s book sold for $1.4 million in 1998.
"Don Quixote" by Miguel de Cervantes
This is a literary staple across the United States, and its price tag is nothing to ignore. As The Telegraph reported, the book once sold in 1989 for $1.5 million.
Herb Scribner is a writer for Deseret Digital Media.