One of the Oldest Books in the World is Up for Sale | Smart News

The Crosby-Schøyen Codex, one of the world’s oldest books, is set to go up for auction this summer with an estimated price tag of $2.6 million to $3.8 million. This rare liturgical text, written by a scribe in Egypt 1,700 years ago, contains two complete books of the Bible and is a testament to the early spread of Christianity.

Featuring Coptic script, an Egyptian language written in the Greek alphabet, the codex has survived the centuries in fragments, with its 104 pages preserved in individual panes of plexiglass. It is considered the earliest known surviving Christian liturgical book, created in Upper Egypt between the third and fourth centuries C.E. The codex includes the New Testament’s first epistle of Peter and the Old Testament’s Book of Jonah.

The upcoming auction by Christie’s in June will also include other texts from the Schøyen collection, one of the largest private manuscript collections in the world. The Crosby-Schøyen Codex is a valuable historical artifact that sheds light on the early spread of Christianity and the transition from papyrus scrolls to bound codex books.

Researchers believe the codex survived due to Egypt’s arid climate, which preserved the ancient text for centuries. After being on display in Paris, the codex will travel to London for the auction on June 11. This rare opportunity to own one of the oldest books in existence is expected to draw significant interest from collectors and historians alike.