The Codex Sassoon, dating from the late 9th or early 10th century, sold for $38.1 million at Sotheby’s in New York on Wednesday.
It is believed to be the earliest and most complete Hebrew Bible.
The Codex Sassoon fell short of its high estimate of $50 million, however.
A rare findThe Codex Sassoon is believed to be the very first codex, or manuscript in book form, of the Hebrew Bible.
Top image: A woman examines the centuries-old Hebrew Bible.