Book Of Psalms Sets World Record At Auction

A tiny book of psalms from 1640 has sold for $14.2m (£8.8m) in New York City, setting an auction record for a printed book. The Bay Psalm Book is believed to be the first book printed in what is now the US.

Sotheby's offered it for sale on Tuesday evening. The presale estimate was $15m to $30m. It was bought by US businessman and philanthropist David Rubenstein, who plans to lend it to libraries around the country.

Only 11 copies of the Bay Psalm Book survive in varying degrees of completeness. The book sold was one of two copies held by Boston's Old South Church

A copy of John James Audubon's Birds of America was the record-holder. It sold for $11.5m at Sotheby's in 2010. Follow Me On Twitter & Instagram: @effiongeton