British Museum reveals £150 Bayeux Tapestry Collector's Edition catalogue
- maxwell museums
- 18 hours ago
- 3 min read
One of the books that’ll be published to accompany the British Museum’s Bayeux Tapestry exhibition will cost £150, it’s been revealed.
A 196-page “collector’s edition” will be the most expensive of eight books the British Museum will release around the blockbuster show, which will see the famous Tapestry return to England on loan for the first time since it was made nearly 1,000 years ago.
For the £150 recommended retail price, readers are promised a “deluxe publication [that] showcases a reproduction of the Bayeux Tapestry in intimate detail — so close that you can see every stitch,” according to a press statement.
The publication will also feature a separately bound curator’s commentary, designed to be read alongside the reproduction, and which will boast “the finest production finishes to emphasise the handcrafted nature of the Tapestry itself.”
Readers can also enjoy “VIP forewords” and a contextual essay that will tell the ongoing story of the Tapestry and its importance in later centuries, such as how it caught the attention of Napoleon, its reinterpretation by the Victorian’s during the growth of the British Empire, and the Nazi study of the Tapestry during the Second World War.
affiliate
📚 Buy the Bayeux Tapestry Collector's Edition from the maxwell museums bookshop
The “luxe package” of the physical book has been created through design touches which nod to the medieval artwork, such as complimentary colours and coloured threads in the binding which reference the Tapestry’s texture. The Collector's Edition will also be clothbound, in reference to artwork’s materiality.
Fear not though — if you’ll be looking for more affordable alternatives, the Museum will also publish two more cheaper Bayeux Tapestry books for adults.
One is a more conventional hardback exhibition catalogue — with an RRP of £45 — which will feature the latest research into the Tapestry presented across five chapters that explore its patronage, design and production, its status as an iconic work of art, and its depictions of daily life. It'll also have specific profiles of key figures woven throughout, including Edward the Confessor, Harold Godwinson, and William of Normandy.
And for those wanting an even bigger bargain, there’ll be a fun fold-out edition, which will feature a full-colour concertina-like reproduction of the Tapestry, showcasing the iconic medieval artwork from start to finish. You can take this book home for just £15. In comparison, tickets to view the Tapestry will cost up to £33.
Alongside these will be five new children's books for the exhibition too, published in collaboration with specialists Nosy Crow. These will include a narrative colouring book, an illustrated non-fiction title, and a vivid graphic novel retelling of the Tapestry’s story.
"We are extremely excited about the forthcoming Bayeux Tapestry exhibition at the British Museum and the opportunities this landmark loan presents for a full and varied publishing programme in 2026” Claudia Bloch, Head of Publishing at the Museum, said.
“We hope that the diversity of the publishing programme provides something for every reader, at every budget.”
Most of the children’s books will be published in August 2026 while the publications for adults — including the Collector’s Edition — will be released in September 2026.
And remember, demand to see the artwork itself will be huge, so prepare for the day the first tranche of Bayeux Tapestry tickets go on sale, which is 01 July 2026.
The Bayeux Tapestry: Collector’s Edition will be published on 10 September 2026. Pre-order a copy here
*This website may receive a small commission if you click a link and purchase something on this page, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support.
