The Clermont-Tonnerre Grail is currently in central London, being prepared for a historic public sale at Christie’s auction house. An exceptional late 13th-century illuminated manuscript of the greatest of all medieval romances: the epic tale of the quest for the Holy Grail, the story of Merlin and his diabolical birth, and the adventures of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
Having been hidden away in private collections for more than 700 years, the manuscript was recently brought to light and scheduled to go under the hammer on July 8, 2026, as the premier lot of Christie’s Valuable Books & Manuscripts sale. The expectations are that it will fetch between £1.2 million and £2 million+ (€1.38 million to €2.3 million+).
The Academic Hope
Because private ownership has long prevented scholars from studying its unique texts and the 126 miniatures, prominent Arthurian historians and archivists at the Cambridge University Library are publicly calling for a consortium of libraries, museums, or public institutions to secure the winning bid.
The (same) Private Risk
Because of its immense value, there is a strong chance it could be purchased by a private collector, meaning it could disappear back into a vault for another century.
