CNN —One of the earliest books in existence is expected to fetch upwards of $2.6m when it goes up for auction later this year. The Crosby-Schøyen Codex, which was written in Coptic on papyrus in Egypt, is the earliest Christian liturgical book, according to the international auction house Christie’s, which will be holding the sale in London on June 11. Carbon dating suggests the book dates back to sometime between the middle of the 3rd and 4th centuries. One of the earliest witnesses to the spread of Christianity, the codex features the first epistle of Peter and the Book of Jonah. As such, the codex is the oldest known book in private hands.

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Persons: Crosby, Peter, Jonah, Bodmer, Martin Schøyen, Eugenio Donadoni, ”, ” Donadoni, Christie’s Organizations: CNN, University of Mississippi, Saint, Christie’s Locations: Egypt, London, Christie’s, Upper Egypt, York