An ancient book is set to be auctioned off

A rare and ancient book, believed to have been produced at one of the first Christian monasteries in Egypt between 250-350 AD, is set to go up for auction in June. The Crosby-Schøyen Codex, valued between $2.8 million to $3.8 million, is considered one of the oldest texts in existence, containing the earliest known texts of two books of the Bible.

The 104-page codex, written in Coptic on papyrus over a 40-year period by one scribe, includes the complete texts of the first epistle of Peter and the Book of Jonah. Part of the Bodmer Papyri discovered in the 1950s, the codex has a rich history, having been owned by the University of Mississippi before being acquired by Norwegian manuscript collector Dr. Martin Schøyen in 1988.

Schøyen is now auctioning the manuscript alongside other pieces from his collection, spanning 1,300 years of cultural history. The sale includes other valuable manuscripts such as the Holkham Hebrew Bible and the Geraardsbergen Bible. Christie’s auction house, where the codex is currently on display in New York until April 9, describes the collection as having immense historical importance.

The Crosby-Schøyen Codex will also be displayed in Paris this month before the auction on June 11 in London. With its significance in the history of Christianity and the evolution of bookmaking, this rare manuscript is sure to attract attention from collectors and historians alike.