Most expensive book in world

November 25, 2008 - A 28-kilogram handmade tome depicting the life and work of Michelangelo is billed as the world's most expensive, most beautiful new book valued at well over US$100,000. The velvet-and marble-bound book titled "Una Dotta Mano" or "the learned hand," takes six months to make each book, using Italian artisan skills dating to the Renaissanc.The cover white marble is from Michelangelo's favourite quarry, in Carrara Marilena Ferrari, the Italian publisher who produced the extravagance, said books are being destroyed by the Internet, they're losing their identity - it's the modern, Internet version of burning books. More than 20 books have been sold. The book is filled with photographs of Michelangelo's drawings and sculptures. The text is by Michelangelo biographer Giorgio Vasari, with essays by the director of the Vatican Museums, Antonio Paolucci. The binding is covered with a red silk velvet handmade by the same Italian shop that made the main stage curtains at The Metropolitan Opera and Milan's Teatro Alla Scala. VIA

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