Interesting Facts and Articles: The Most Expensive Book in the World Ever Sold, Codex Leicester

The Codex Leicester is the most expensive book in the world ever sold. Was bought by Bill Gates at auction in 1994 for the astounding $ 30.80 million.

Written between 1506 and 1510, the Codex Leicester provide the minds of great Renaissance artists, scientists, and thinkers, Leonardo da Vinci.

Codex is named by Thomas Coke, later first Earl of Leicester, purchased in 1717. Physically, the Codex takes the form of 18 sheets of paper, each folded in half and written on both sides, forming a complete 72-page document. It’s handwritten in Italian by the Leonardo, using a typical mirror writing, and supported by lots of pictures and diagrams.

Codex stored on public display once a year in different cities around the world. Year 2004 has been exhibited at the Château de Chambord, and in 2005 in Tokyo. One page is on display at the Museum of Flight in Seattle in 2006 the exhibition “Leonardo da Vinci: Man, Inventor, Genius.”

Here’s some pictures from the book