10. A secret safe holds the Strand’s most treasured books

The Strand is packed with rare and precious books, but the cream of the crop is locked away in a safe in the Rare Book Room. The safe contains the Strand’s oldest book, German commentary on the Psalms printed in 1480. It also holds the Strand’s most expensive work, a copy of Ulysses costing $45,000, signed by none other than Henri Matisse, who illustrated this version, and James Joyce himself. If you think this is pricey, know that the most expensive item to ever sell at the Strand was Shakespeare’s first folio for $100,000.