Salvador Dalí book cover stolen from French art center

The cover of the ‘Apocalypse’ book, described as one of the heaviest and most expensive in the world, was stolen from the Centre d’art contemporain C. Karoutzos in Issoire, France. The theft occurred during the night of October 4-5, 2026.

The stolen component is a monumental cover featuring works by Salvador Dalí, crafted from bronze, gold, and precious stones, weighing approximately 150 kg. The owner, Christian Karoutzos, stated that the piece is “unsellable” due to its unique and highly recognizable nature, suggesting thieves might attempt to melt down the precious metals or separate the stones.

Investigators believe the thieves were prepared, as they bypassed security by cutting camera cables and stealing the hard drive containing recorded footage. While the thieves ignored other valuable items, such as ten precious parchments in an adjacent room, the theft leaves the remainder of the historic book without its iconic cover. The work was originally a massive 1958 project involving various artists, including Jean Cocteau and Bernard Buffet.