LONDON: Sachin Tendulkar`s blood is to be used in a special edition of a huge biography of the Indian cricket legend, its publishers said Monday.

A giant de luxe book, the Tendulkar Opus, is coming out in February, with 10 copies being printed using his blood.

The mammoth book is designed to be the "ultimate tribute to a living sporting legend" and "the definitive work on his life and career", publishers Kraken said.

"The signature page will be mixed with Sachin`s blood -- mixed into the paper pulp so it`s a red resin," Kraken chief executive Karl Fowler said, according to The Guardian newspaper.

"It is what it is -- you will have Sachin`s blood on the page.

"It`s not everyone`s cup of tea, it`s not to everyone`s taste and some may think it`s a bit weird. But the key thing here is that Sachin Tendulkar to millions of people is a religious icon.

"And we thought how, in a publishing form, can you get as close to your god as possible?"

The 10 "blood" copies have all been pre-ordered and cost around 75,000 dollars (58,000 euros) each.

The proceeds from their sale will go towards Tendulkar`s charitable foundation, the newspaper said.

Around 1,000 regular copies, each numbered and personally signed, will go on sale at 2,000 to 3,000 dollars.

Each of the 852 pages are half a metre (yard) square and edged in gold leaf. The publication weighs 37 kilogrammes (82 pounds) and contains around 1,500 images and more than 300,000 words.

Tendulkar is the first cricketer to be given the Opus treatment. Previous works have been published on Ferrari, Manchester United, Diego Maradona, Michael Jackson and the Burj Khalifa.

"The Opus brand is all about celebrating the highest achievers in their fields - whether that is art, sport or entertainment," said editor Justyn Barnes.

"Sachin is a true icon, a man who really transcends his sport."

BDST: 2255 HRS, JULY 19, 2010