The world of auctions and cultural treasures is preparing to experience an exceptional event with the upcoming sale of the famous Crosby-Schøyen Codex manuscript. This document, a true jewel of cultural heritage, is one of the oldest books in the world and is arousing unprecedented interest.
Considered the oldest existing Christian liturgical book, the Crosby-Schøyen Codex is a Coptic papyrus manuscript written in Egypt. Its carbon dating indicates an origin between the middle of the 3rd and 4th centuries, making it a privileged witness to the expansion of Christianity through time. Of incredible historical and cultural value, this 104-page manuscript contains major biblical texts such as the First Epistle of Peter and the Book of Jonah.
The fascination exercised by the Crosby-Schøyen Codex is not limited to its antiquity and its religious content. It also embodies a significant transition in the history of knowledge transmission media, moving from papyrus scrolls to bound books. This shift to a book format as we know it today represents a crucial step in the evolution of the preservation and dissemination of knowledge.
The provenance and journey of this manuscript also testify to its cultural importance. One of the Bodmer Papyri discovered in the 1950s, it was later acquired by the University of Mississippi before passing through different hands, finally landing in the valuable collection of Martin Schøyen in 1988. Today, the Crosby-Schøyen Codex is considered the oldest known book in private hands, making it a coveted object for collectors and institutions around the world.
The sale of this exceptional manuscript at Christie’s promises to be an unmissable event for all history, art and culture enthusiasts. With a price estimate ranging between $2.6 million and $3.8 million, the Crosby-Schøyen Codex should attract the attention of discerning enthusiasts and heritage specialists. Its exhibition in New York until April 9 has already aroused great interest and suggests a historic auction.
In short, the Crosby-Schøyen Codex is much more than just an ancient book. It embodies a precious testimony to the history of Christianity and the evolution of knowledge transmission practices. Its sale at Christie’s marks an important chapter in the eventful life of this centuries-old manuscript and promises to write a new page in its history as an object of inestimable value and a universal cultural symbol.