by Lauren Canterberry
Post Date:
February 15, 2023

World’s oldest Hebrew Bible headed for auction

Name: WORLD
Price range: $

Sotheby’s London says the oldest and most complete Hebrew Bible will be displayed in London next week before auction in May. The so-called Codex Sassoon is named after previous owner David Solomon Sassoon, who acquired the manuscript in 1929. Sotheby’s estimates the 1,000-year-old book could sell for up to $50 million, which would make it the most valuable printed text ever sold at auction. After being shown in London, the book will be exhibited in Tel Aviv, Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York, where the auction will be held.

What’s the difference between the Hebrew and Christian Bibles? The Hebrew Bible, known as the Tanakh, consists of 24 books, which are also part of the Christian Bible’s Old Testament. The Tanakh is organized into three sections: the Torah, the Nevi’im, and the Ketuvim.

Dig deeper: Listen to Paul Butler’s story on The World and Everything in It podcast about a lead tablet that bolsters early Biblical accounts.

Lauren Canterberry

Lauren Canterberry is a reporter for WORLD. She graduated from the World Journalism Institute and the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism, both in 2017. She worked as a local reporter in Texas and now lives in Georgia with her husband.