David M Rubenstein, co-founder and co-chief executive of the Carlyle Group LP, has paid $14.2m (€10.45m) at Sotheby’s in New York yesterday for The Bay Psalm Book, the highest price for a printed book at auction.

A RARE copy of the world’s most expensive book, a huge 19th century digest of birds painted to life-size, is to be auctioned for up to €7.25 million.