Ancient Book from Egyptian Monastery Expected to Fetch Millions at Auction
An ancient book believed to have originated from one of the earliest Christian monasteries in Egypt between 250-350 AD is set to be auctioned in June.
The Crosby-Schøyen Codex, considered to be among the oldest texts in existence, is estimated to be valued between $2.8 million to $3.8 million by Christie's auction house.
"It's from that crucial period when papyrus scrolls were transitioning into the codex form," mentioned Eugenio Donadoni, Christie's senior specialist for books and manuscripts. "This book contains the earliest known texts of two books from the Bible."
The 104-page codex, written in Coptic on papyrus by a single scribe over 40 years, includes complete texts of two Bible books - the first epistle of Peter and the Book of Jonah.
Part of the Bodmer Papyri discovered in the 1950s, the codex was initially owned by the University of Mississippi until 1981. It changed hands multiple times before being acquired by Dr. Martin Schøyen, a Norwegian manuscript collector, in 1988.
An ancient codex, dating back 1,300 years, is currently up for auction by Schøyen alongside other valuable pieces from his collection. This sale offers a glimpse into centuries of cultural history, featuring manuscripts like the Holkham Hebrew Bible and the Geraardsbergen Bible, according to the auction house.
Describing the significance of the collection, the auction house stated on its website that it transcends the boundaries of a mere private or national collection.
The codex is currently being exhibited at Christie's New York until April 9, after which it will be showcased in Paris before heading to London for the auction on June 11.
