Codex Leicester

Codex Leicester
Codex Hammer
Page of the Codex Leicester
AuthorLeonardo da Vinci
LanguageItalian
GenreHandwriting
Published1510 (1504–1508)[citation needed]
Publication placeFlorence, Italy
Pages72 (18 sheets)

The Codex Leicester (also briefly known as the Codex Hammer) is a collection of scientific writings by Leonardo da Vinci. The codex is named after Thomas Coke, Earl of Leicester, who purchased it in 1717. The codex provides an insight into the mind of the Renaissance artist, scientist and thinker, as well as an exceptional illustration of the link between art and science and the creativity of the scientific process.[1]

When the manuscript was last sold to Bill Gates at Christie's auction house on 11 November 1994 in New York for US$30,802,500 (equivalent to $63,320,092 in 2023[2]), it was the most expensive manuscript ever sold.[3][4][5]

  1. ^ Leonardo (da Vinci), Kenneth David Keele, Jane Roberts, Leonardo Da Vinci: Anatomical Drawings from the Royal Library, Windsor Castle, New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1983
  2. ^ "$30,802,500 in 1994 → 2022 | Inflation Calculator". Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  3. ^ "BBC News: Bay Psalm Book is most expensive printed work at $14.2m". BBC News. 27 November 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Christie's was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Kuruvilla, Carol (22 September 2017). "Mormon Church Drops $35 Million On Printer's Manuscript Of The Book Of Mormon". Huffington Post. Retrieved 25 September 2017.