Martin Waller in The Times business section looks at Kraken Opus – the company behind some very big, very expensive coffeetable books. Manchester United, the Super Bowl, Barcelona FC etc

The Opus on Man U has just changed hands for £1 million, making it the most expensive sports publication on record. Another Opus, a diamond-encrusted pictorial account of the Prince concerts at The O2 arena last year, is expected to break the record sale price for a printed work when it comes up for auction this year.

A third, on the 100 greatest boxing matches, will cost $100,000 (£70,000), is limited to 100 copies, measures 1.5m (5ft) square and, at 160kg (350lb), must be the weightiest tome ever published, requiring special machinery to install. The forthcoming volume on the Burj Dubai hotel, to be kept there, will, at 5m (16ft), be the world’s tallest book.