Fancy some new bedtime reading? Rare world history book from 1493 found in dusty attic goes on sale for $35,000



It's the classic dream story of finding something unexpected in your attic that'd been gathering dust for decades.

Now a partial copy of one of the earliest and most lavishly-illustrated books of the 15th century is on sale for a cool $35,000.

The Nuremberg Chronicle, published more than 500 years ago in Germany in 1493, is a world history beginning in biblical times.

Amazed: Ken Sanders, who appraises items for PBS's Antiques Roadshow, came across the Nuremberg Chronicle, published more than 500 years ago in Germany in 1493, in April while at a fundraiser in Utah

Ken Sanders, who appraises items for PBS’s Antiques Roadshow, came across it in April while volunteering at a fundraiser in Utah.

The event was for a museum in the small town of Sandy, about 15 miles south of Salt Lake City, where the copy is now on sale at a rare book shop.



The book's owner has declined to be identified, but Mr Sanders said it was passed down to the man by his great uncle and had been gathering dust in his attic for decades.

He had no idea of its worth or significance until bringing it to Mr Sanders in a big plastic sack two months ago, saying ' he thought it might be worth some money'.

Then he produced a tattered, partial copy of the 518-year-old German-language book printed by Anton Koberger, leaving Mr Sanders 'absolutely astounded' and 'flabbergasted'.

Discovery: A man found a partial copy of one of the earliest and most lavishly-illustrated books of the 15th century in his dusty attic and it is on sale for a cool $35,000

Because it was printed on cotton bond paper, not wood pulp like most present-day works, he said the remaining pages have been well-preserved albeit literally coming apart at the seams.

‘It's that classic story. You really never know what's in your attic' Luise Poulton, University of Utah

But it turns out the book is worth significantly less than another version in mint condition and fully intact which sold last year at a London auction for about $850,000, because it is in poorer shape.



‘It basically kills the value,’ he said. ‘If it turned up in perfect condition in Salt Lake City, now that would be amazing. That would be astounding.’

Luise Poulton, curator and head of rare books at the University of Utah's J. Willard Marriott Library, called it an ‘exciting find’ - but largely just because of the way it surfaced.