2. Rules of Basketball ($4.3 million or $4.7 million today)
A piece of paper can be so valuable when it serves as an important piece of history. That is the case for this Rules of Basketball. As our runner up for most expensive memorabilia in sport, it is also the world’s 12th most expensive book.
Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world. NBA teams are earning not just millions, but billions of dollars. And even the retired basketball legend, Michael Jordan, is still earning from his Air Jordan brand.
This sport was invented by James Naismith in 1891. He wrote the rulebook and started the basketball program in the University of Kansas where he worked as a head coach. That original rulebook, Rules of Basketball, was sold about six years ago for $4.3 million. It was December, 2010 to be exact. And today, that is worth $4.7 million.
Most of the rulebook was typed. But there are several James’ handwritten notes here and there on the pages.
