A rare Koran has sold for £230,000 ($354,504) at Bearnes, Hampton and Littlewoods in Exeter, UK.
The lot was valued at £1,500 ($2,307). The sale price equates to an increase of 15,233% on that estimate.
 The Koran was created by Yahya Hilmi Efendi |
It was created by famed calligrapher Yahya Hilmi Efendi during the 19th century.
The exceptional quality of the illuminations and binding indicate that it was produced for the courts and was likely made in Constantinople (now Istanbul).
Co-founder Richard Bearne told the BBC: "It sold well principally because of the rarity of it - works by this person are terribly rare.
"When you get approached by people looking to acquire objects before a sale it's always a good sign.
"There were two wealthy collectors going head-to-head and that's all you need to get a high price".
Another smaller Koran by female calligrapher Shah Umm Salamah realised £18,000 ($27,693).
It beat its estimate of £5,000 ($7,692) by 260%.
Umm Salamah was the fourth daughter of Fath'ali Shah Qajar (1772-1834), the second Qajar shah of Persia.
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