6. Bay Psalm Book – $14.2 million ($14.4 million in 2016)
The Bay Psalm Book is a metrical Psalter or Bible translation. This one was the first printed in British North America (Cambridge, Massachusetts to be exact), back in 1640 by the Puritan leaders.
Even though over 1,000 of it printed, there are only eleven copies left of the historical first edition. Most of them are owned by universities and libraries. However, one goes to a financier and philanthropist, David Rubenstein.
Just three years ago, in November 2013, David bought it at Sotheby’s auction from the Boston’s Old South Church. The price was a staggering $14.2 million.
The church actually owned two copies. The other copy is not going to be sold. Despite having some printing mistakes, it is still the sixth most expensive book ever sold.
