The New York International Antiquarian Book Fair is the place to inspect some of the most exquisite rare books on the market. But at this year’s event in early April, some browsers may have been unprepared for a small, grayish item on view: a book bound in human skin. The book, which measures about 3 by 5 inches, came with a price tag of $45,000 — and a colorful back story. According to a statement by its owner, the binding was commissioned in 1682 by an Italian doctor and anatomist identified as Jacopo X, and has been kept by his descendants ever since. So he removed a piece of skin, and used it to bind a copy of the play.

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Persons: Jacopo X, Jacopo, “ Le Baron d’Albikrac, ”, ” Ian Kahn Organizations: New York Locations: Italian