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Storytelling has been a vital aspect of human culture for centuries. Our ancestors shared tales that were passed down through generations. The invention of the printing press in the 15th century revolutionized this tradition, allowing stories to be printed and widely distributed.
In modern times, obtaining a copy of nearly any book is straightforward. You can visit a library, browse a bookstore, or purchase one online. However, the books listed below are far more elusive.
Here are ten of the most scarce books in history. Their rarity stems from limited print runs, historical losses, or other factors. Despite their scarcity, each book on this list shares two key traits: they hold immense historical or cultural value and are exceptionally difficult to locate.
10. Pride and Prejudice: Jane Austen
The initial entry on our list comes from the legendary author Jane Austen. Her renowned novel, Pride and Prejudice, was penned and released in the early 19th century. Similar to many classics, it wasn’t instantly celebrated and was even dismissed as trivial by contemporary critics.
Despite its initial reception as a lightweight work, Austen has since been celebrated as one of history’s most influential female authors, having authored six complete novels. The first edition of Pride and Prejudice was published in three distinct volumes, which are now among the rarest books in the world. In 2010, an original first edition set was auctioned for approximately $180,000.
9. The Tale of Peter Rabbit: Beatrix Potter
The Tale of Peter Rabbit has been translated into 36 languages and has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. However, the first edition had a limited run of just 250 copies, as Potter intended them for close acquaintances and relatives. While the whereabouts of all these copies remain uncertain, one was sold in 2016 for over $50,000.
8. On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres: Nicolaus Copernicus
Nicolaus Copernicus is regarded as a pioneer of modern astronomy, best known for his revolutionary heliocentric theory, which posits that the Sun is the center of the universe. This was a stark contrast to the previously accepted geocentric model, which placed Earth at the universe's core.
During his lifetime, Copernicus was apprehensive about societal backlash to his heliocentric model, as such ideas were deemed heretical. Consequently, he published On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres on his deathbed. Today, only around 250 copies survive, making them both historically significant and exceedingly rare. While many are housed in libraries, privately owned copies can fetch up to $2 million.
7. First Folio: William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare stands as one of the most influential figures in literature, largely due to his First Folio, also known as
The First Folio was published in 1623, seven years after Shakespeare's death, with an initial print run of 750 copies. Today, approximately 240 copies remain, cementing its status as one of the rarest and most significant literary works in history. Without this compilation, many of Shakespeare's plays might have been lost to time.
6. Birds of America: James Audubon
Next on the list is Birds of America, a masterpiece authored and illustrated by John James Audubon in 1820. This remarkable work features stunning depictions of 435 bird species. While Audubon handled most of the writing and artwork, his assistant, Joseph Mason, contributed approximately fifty background illustrations.
What makes this book exceptionally unique is that it includes illustrations of birds that are now extinct. In the 19th century, the book was distributed via subscription. A complete set, which belonged to Audubon himself, is housed at the Stark Museum of Art in Orange, Texas. The total number of surviving copies is uncertain but is estimated to be between 100 and 200.
A complete edition of Birds of America can fetch between $8 and $12 million. Its rarity and value are undeniable, given its exquisite portrayal of avian life in early America.
5. Tamerlane and Other Poems: Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe is celebrated for his haunting tales and enduring influence. Among his most famous works are The Raven and The Tell-Tale Heart. Tragically, Poe passed away at just forty, receiving little acclaim during his lifetime. His fame only grew posthumously.
One of his earliest works, Tamerlane and Other Poems, had a mere fifty copies printed in its first edition. As Poe's reputation soared after his death, scholars sought out his other writings. In 2009, a first edition of Tamerlane and Other Poems sold for over $600,000, despite being only around forty pages long.
Poe's life story mirrors the dark and tragic themes of his works. He never witnessed the recognition he deserved, nor the profound and lasting impact he would have on literature. Today, complete first editions of Tamerlane and Other Poems are housed at the Huntington Library in New York and the Edgar Allan Poe Museum in Richmond, Virginia—though they are not available for borrowing.
4. The Gutenberg Bible
Johannes Gutenberg revolutionized printing with his invention of the printing press in 15th-century Mainz, Germany. The first book ever printed using this technology was the Bible, making the “Gutenberg Bible” the first mass-produced book in history. Prior to this, books were painstakingly copied by hand or through other labor-intensive methods.
In 1440, Gutenberg produced approximately 175 copies of the Bible. Over time, most of these copies have either been lost or their locations remain undisclosed. Today, only about 25 complete copies are known to exist, with 10 in the United States and 14 or 15 in Germany. A full copy was auctioned for over $2 million in 1978, while an incomplete version fetched more than $5 million in 1988.
Remarkably, due to their extreme rarity, even individual pages of the Gutenberg Bible have been sold for $100,000 or higher. What makes this book unique on our list is not its content—the Bible is the most reproduced book in history—but the groundbreaking method used to produce it.
3. The Codex of Leicester: Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci is renowned for his diverse talents as an inventor, astronomer, mathematician, philosopher, and prolific writer. His personal notebook, The Codex of Leicester, documents many of his scientific observations and theories.
The notebook delves into topics such as water, air, fossils, and astronomy. The Codex Leicester stands as the rarest book on this list, with only one copy in existence. After da Vinci's death, the notebook passed through the hands of notable figures, including Guglielmo della Porta, Giuseppe Ghezzi, and Thomas Coke, the first Earl of Leicester.
The Codex stayed with the Leicester Earls until 1980, when American industrialist Armand Hammer acquired it. In 1994, another American entrepreneur, Bill Gates, purchased it for over $30 million, making him the current owner. The notebook consists of just 18 handwritten pages, meaning Gates paid approximately $1.6 million per page.
2. The Canterbury Tales: Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales is a timeless literary masterpiece. It comprises nine stories narrated by various characters from the 15th century as they journey to Canterbury. These tales include “The Knight’s Tale,” “The Friar’s Tale,” “The Squire’s Tale,” and others.
The first edition of The Canterbury Tales was printed in 1477, and only 12 original copies are known to exist today. The most recent sale of an original edition occurred in 1998, when Sir Paul Getty bought it for around $4.5 million. Given its age, the rarity and value of this book are only expected to increase over time.
1. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: Lewis Carroll
The first edition of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland has 22 known copies, with only six owned by private individuals and the rest housed in renowned libraries. Published in 1865, the book features illustrations by John Tenniel and remains a cherished literary work.
Originally, 2,000 copies were planned, but the initial print run was halted due to Tenniel’s dissatisfaction with the reproduction of his artwork. Before the withdrawal, Carroll distributed copies to close friends and family, making the first edition exceptionally rare. In 2006, one of these copies sold for over $2 million.
Despite being just 200 pages long, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland has had a lasting cultural impact, inspiring numerous films, TV adaptations, and more. If Carroll had known a single copy would fetch over $2 million, he might have believed he had truly entered his own fantastical world!
