Book with Salvador Dalí cover stolen from French art centre in Issoudun
Version 2: RBC added a specific weight of 210 kg for the book and an estimate that it is now worth several million euros, alongside the earlier account of the Issoudun theft, the investigation in Clermont-Ferrand and the collector's figure of more than €304,000 at the time of creation.
In short
A single-copy book, “Apocalypse” by Joseph Foret with a bronze cover made by Salvador Dalí, was stolen from a contemporary art centre in Issoudun, France, overnight into 5 October 2026. Kommersant says the work weighs more than 200 kg, RBC puts it at 210 kg with about 150 kg in the bronze cover, and RBC says it is now valued at several million euros. Prosecutors opened an investigation and handed the case to the criminal investigation department in Clermont-Ferrand.
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A book with a cover made by Salvador Dalí has been stolen in France. Kommersant, citing Ici, reported that the work — Joseph Foret's “Apocalypse” — was taken from a contemporary art centre in Issoudun overnight into 5 October. RBC likewise placed the theft at the centre in Issoudun, while TASS reported in brief that one of the world's most expensive books, with a Dalí cover, had been stolen in France. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The book weighs more than 200 kg, according to Kommersant; RBC put the figure at 210 kg. Both reported that the bronze cover alone weighs about 150 kg. Kommersant said the work was produced as a single copy by the gallery owner Joseph Foret between 1958 and 1961, based on the Book of Revelation of John the Divine, also known as the Apocalypse. Its illustrations were made by several painters, among them Bernard Buffet, Leonor Fini, Leonora Foudjita, Pierre-Yves Trémois and Ossip Zadkine, with commentaries on some passages written by authors including Jean Cocteau, Daniel-Rops and Jean Guitton. Twenty-five craft workshops took part in making it. [ 2 , 3 ]
From 1961 to 1972 the work was shown at more than 140 exhibitions around the world, Kommersant reported. Before entering the collection of Christian Caroutzos in a French museum, it was displayed in Switzerland and Japan. Caroutzos bought it in 2003 and does not disclose the purchase price; according to the collector, the book cost more than €304,000 at the time it was created. RBC reported that the work is now valued at several million euros. [ 2 , 3 ]
Prosecutors opened an investigation and the case was handed to the criminal investigation department in Clermont-Ferrand, according to Kommersant. None of the documents named a suspect or reported that the book had been found. [ 2 ]
Kommersant noted that for such an object value is not set only by materials or production costs: because it was made in a single copy, there is no equivalent replacement, so the question is the recovery of the original rather than compensation through the purchase of a similar copy. Citing figures from Art Loss Register published on 8 September 2026, it said fewer than 10% of stolen artworks are recovered, which for a unique item means a particularly high risk of permanent loss if it is not found and identified. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The work was made in a single copy, so Kommersant noted there is no equivalent replacement and the question is recovery of the original rather than compensation. Experts cited by Art Loss Register estimate fewer than 10% of stolen artworks are recovered, which Kommersant said makes permanent loss a particular risk for a unique object. The case also concerns the security of a regional art venue holding a high-value work.
Key facts
- The book “Apocalypse” by Joseph Foret, with a cover made by Salvador Dalí, was stolen from a contemporary art centre in Issoudun, France, overnight into 5 October 2026. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Kommersant says the book weighs more than 200 kg and RBC puts its weight at 210 kg. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The bronze cover weighs about 150 kg, according to Kommersant and RBC. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The book was produced as a single copy between 1958 and 1961, based on the Book of Revelation, Kommersant reported. [ 2 ]
- Kommersant said illustrations were contributed by painters including Bernard Buffet, Leonor Fini, Leonora Foudjita, Pierre-Yves Trémois and Ossip Zadkine, with commentaries by writers including Jean Cocteau. [ 2 ]
- The book was shown at more than 140 exhibitions worldwide between 1961 and 1972, Kommersant reported. [ 2 ]
- Collector Christian Caroutzos bought the book in 2003; he does not disclose the price but says it cost more than €304,000 at the time it was created, according to Kommersant. [ 2 ]
- RBC reported the work is currently valued at several million euros. [ 3 ]
- Prosecutors opened an investigation and transferred the case to the criminal investigation department of Clermont-Ferrand, Kommersant reported. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The current market value of the book. RBC says it is estimated at several million euros, while Kommersant gives only the collector's figure of more than €304,000 at the time of creation and says the 2003 purchase price is not disclosed; TASS gives no figure.
- The exact time of the theft. Kommersant says only that it happened overnight into 5 October; no document gives an hour.
- Who carried out the theft and whether the book has been found. All three documents report the theft and the opening of an investigation without naming suspects or reporting a recovery.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The book is stolen from a contemporary art centre in Issoudun overnight into 5 October (exact time not given). [ 2 ]
- TASS reports that one of the world's most expensive books, with a Dalí cover, was stolen in France. [ 1 ]
- Kommersant reports the theft of the 200-kg book and details the investigation. [ 2 ]
- RBC reports the theft of the 210-kg book and an estimate of its value at several million euros. [ 3 ]