The Gutenberg, also known as the 42 Line Bible, was the first substantial book printed around 1455 using “moveable type”, and is probably the most famous and sought after antique Bible. Some individual leaves from truly rare Bibles can make big money. Sometimes, you don’t even need the entire Bible to have great value on your hands. Individual leaves from centuries old Bibles can have value However, the older the Bible, the less important condition becomes.ĭue to the relative scarcity of antique Bibles in decent condition which are 200+ years old, their value and collectibility rises.įor example, even an incomplete King James Bible from 1611 can still be worth a considerable amount. Exceptionally old Bibles are more desirable The clasped Bible pictured above sold at one of our auctions for $300. These types of family Bibles were very common in the Victorian era and for obvious reasons are still collectible today for their beauty as display pieces. Although this Bible was published in the 1880s, it is in wonderful condition with original clasps. The Catholic family Bible pictured above is an exception to the rule. One of the exceptions to this guideline is if the Bible is finely bound or has some special characteristic which sets it apart from the crowd, it can have more collectibility.Īn 1880’s exception to the rule due to its beautiful, ornate binding, this Bible sold for $300 When a book is easy to obtain and plentiful, it’s not rare, and most times, not very valuable. Because Bibles published in that time period are so common today, they are easy to obtain.

In general, a Bible published from around 1820 – 2000 almost certainly has little or no value. Rarity plays a big part in the worth of an old Bible. Therefore, it stands to reason why condition becomes an important factor in the value of an antique Bible. This is primarily why most old Bibles don’t stand the test of time in terms of condition as well as other books which tend to sit on the shelf. The Bible is not only the single most printed book in history but it’s also the most read. This antique Bible dates to 1743 and though it has (contemporary) writing in it, is desirable.īibles are heavily used and often tend to be in poor condition. In fact, second to antique children’s books, thumbed through by little hands, old Bibles tend to suffer the worst when it comes to their condition. Unless they’re gorgeous display-only works of art, Bibles have typically been heavily used by their owners. Just think about how people have used and cherished Bibles through the years. Whatever their title and whatever their age, books were, and are, meant to be read. If you have an antique Bible published in America in the very early 19th century, it could possibly have some value. There are a few rare exceptions, but if you have a Bible published AFTER about 1800, it is most likely worth very little as there were tremendous numbers of Bibles produced during this time.Īccording to the International Society of Bible Collectors, American Bible publishing experienced somewhat of an explosion just after the end of the Revolutionary War. Valuable Bibles are (often) dated 1800 or earlier Bibles like these have value only as reading material. These modern 20th century Bibles are the type most of us have. The exact same Bible, not owned by Elvis Presley, is worth $10 or less. Old Bibles published between 1900-2000 are almost exclusively considered reading material and unless your copy was owned by someone famous, it is not worth further research.įor instance, Elvis Presley’s personal Bible, published in 1977, sold for $94,000 at auction in 2012. The most common question we get is from people who have an old Bible published in the 20th century and are curious about what it is worth. Let’s learn about a few points that will make a difference in the value of your antique Bible.

If your old Bible was published the mid-to-late 19th century, or anytime in the 20th century, it’s not going to be worth much. How old is it? (1800 or earlier is best).We get this question a lot about antique Bibles, and though the answer isn’t in black and white, the bottom line is that the value of an old Bible very often depends on age, condition and rarity. Tips on finding the value of antique Bibles

Pictorial family bible 1892