Showing posts with label Rare Bible. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rare Bible. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Tips for Buying Facsimiles of Rare Bible Books

Buying a rare and antique Bible book needs you to have deep pockets. You should also have adequate knowledge to distinguish between a fake copy and the original, or else, you could be taken for a ride by unscrupulous elements. However, not everyone may have the money to buy the original copy of a rare Bible book. In such cases, looking for high-quality facsimiles that reproduce the original content without any changes or deletions is worth considering.

In today’s technology-driven age, many people have moved from physical books to electronic devices for most of their reading. But the scenario is different for rare book collectors and even those who buy facsimiles of the original rare Bible books. For these people, the excitement of holding a piece of literary history remains unparalleled. As a result, there’s a high demand for rare and antique bibles and their replicas.

According to some credible sources, the Bible is the world’s best-selling book of all time, having sold almost 5 billion copies to date. Naturally, rare Bible books and their facsimiles find many takers. From the Gutenberg Bible and 1378 Wycliffe New Testament to 1535 Coverdale Bible1536 Tyndale New Testament1560 Geneva Bible, and more, there’s a lot to choose from when buying facsimiles of rare Bible books. But you need to shop carefully.

Given below are some steps to help you make the most of your investment when buying antique Bibles and their replicas. .

Do Your Homework Regarding What Edition is the Most Valuable

There’s a difference between a Bible being rare and one being a collectible. You can consider “rare” a measure of how easy or difficult it is to get hold of the Bible. But what makes a Bible collectible is a different matter. From who worked on it to its illustrator, binding, where it was printed, or its special features (like notes in the margin, woodcut illustrations, etc.) - everything can make it a collectible. Even the previous owner, especially if the person was a celebrity or someone famous, could make the Bible a collector’s item.

Many people also believe that first editions of a Bible are more valuable. But that isn’t always true. Sometimes, later editions with inadvertent mistakes or additional information or illustrations can be sold at five to ten times (or even more) the price of the first edition. And depending on how valuable the original Bible book is, the demand will rise or fall for its facsimile.

Keep an Eye on the Amount You Pay

The cost of a facsimile usually varies with the original Bible’s value. From the condition of its pages and binding to the special features it has (say, woodcut illustrations), every factor will influence its value. Apart from a Bible book’s physical condition, its content also significantly contributes to its desirability.

Experts handling rare books say that the most valuable pieces are those that altered the course of history or human understanding. Thus, the price of the original Gutenberg Bible (1455) and its facsimile will be a lot more than the English Hexapla (1841) and its facsimile reproduction.

Know the Features to Look For

What features make a Bible book and its replica valuable is something you should know. For instance, when buying a facsimile reproduction of the 1611 King James Bible, you should look for Gothic-style typeface and Jacobean-style spelling.

If buying a facsimile reproduction of the Gutenberg Bible, taking a closer look at its Gothic typeface is a must. It should have a medieval look and be slightly less pointed and compressed than other examples that came to the forefront shortly thereafter.

If buying a facsimile reproduction of the Gutenberg Bible, taking a closer look at its Gothic typeface is a must. It should have a medieval look and be slightly less pointed and compressed than other examples that came to the forefront shortly thereafter.

Why Trust Reliable Dealers of Bible Books

Not every buyer may have the knowledge or an eye to spot the minute differences between the original and its replica. Some may not even know about the features thoroughly, making identifying them an uphill task. That’s why it pays to buy your Bible book replicas from a reliable and reputed dealer of such books to ensure you get your money’s worth.

Wrapping Up

Instead of blindly buying a replica of an original Bible that’s old and rare, you should know the things mentioned above to make an informed buy and avoid being duped. So, go ahead and get your facsimile reproduction of a Bible book that you have been eyeing for quite some time now.

Original Source: http://rare-bibles.com/tips-for-buying-facsimiles-of-rare-bible-books.html

Friday, July 29, 2022

Antique Bibles vs. Rare Bible vs. Valuable Bibles: What is the difference?

A Bible can be antique, but not rare.

A Bible can be rare, but not antique.

A Bible can be both antique and rare, but not valuable.

However, what most collectors want, and what we almost exclusively deal in, are Bibles that check all three boxes: Bibles that are antique and rare and valuable.
So, how can you determine whether a Bible is antique or rare or valuable?  First and foremost, you should only purchase from a reputable dealer.  We here at The Bible Museum (GREATSITE.COM) have been the world’s largest dealers of rare and antique Bibles since 1987, and there are no other full-time professional rare book dealers who focus exclusively on ancient Biblical printings, and move a significant volume of such material, making our organization a “near monopoly” in this niche market for over 35 years.

That being said, we also strive to educate our customers so that they can be independently discerning in their evaluations of ancient Bibles available for purchase anywhere.  A basic understanding of the natussre of antique Bibles and rare Bibles can provide a sense of empowerment for the buyer, which transcends being dependent upon trusting any dealer.  As Sy Syms used to say, “an educated consumer is our best customer”.

Antique Bibles

Antique Bibles are also known as ancient Bibles, or old Bibles, or antiquarian Bibles.  Sometimes we also see antique Bibles referred to by the more idiosyncratic term “vintage Bibles”, though that is inappropriate as “vintage” refers exclusively to wine. The age of a Bible is a major factor in determining not only its value, but whether it is legitimately an antique, or merely an out-of-print old edition.

An often asked question is, “How old does a Bible have to be, in order for it to be considered truly antique?” It is not surprising that people are confused by this because the standard of being “antique” varies greatly according to the type of material in question. Consider automobiles: if a car is as little as 25 years old, it is considered an antique. The standard is even lower for consumer electronics, such as computers, cell phones, audio equipment, or televisions, where items as little as 10 to 15 years old are antique, and items that are 25 to 40 years old are considered to be truly ancient.

Different Bibliophile Levels of Antique

Regarding Bibles, there are really different levels of “antique”. Let’s take a closer look at how a Bible’s age effects its defined antiquarian status in the world of dealers and collectors.  We will see that while some kinds of rare and collectible books, such as “Modern Firsts” of classic works, may be considered antique even if they are just a few decades old, the standard for a Bible to be antique is much higher than that.

Bibles Up To 100 Years Old

We should clearly establish from the start that any Bible printed within the past 100 years is not an antique by any recognized professional use of the term. It is important to bear in mind that the Bible is the most printed book in the world, and by a very wide margin.  For this reason, English language Bibles printed between the 1920’s and today, were generally mass-produced in such enormous quantity that they will never be particularly rare or valuable, and therefore the trade does not consider them to be antique in any meaningful sense.
In fact, within the rare book industry, Bibles that are less than a century old are often referred to as “Junk Bibles”. At first glance, this term can be highly offensive to Christians who mistakenly think the reference is a slanderous derogatory insult aimed at the Bible itself… but this is not at all what is meant. Rather, this is simply a reference to the fact that modern era Bibles of the past century as “as common as road gravel” due to the extremely high volumes at which they were produced.

Dealers are also frequently approached by people wanting to sell their great-grandparents’ Bible of the early to mid 1900’s, and it can be exhausting having to constantly tell these people that their cherished (though apparently not cherished enough if they want to sell it) old Family Bible which they think should be worth thousands of dollars, is in fact worth less than one hundred dollars… and often worth less than twenty dollars.

Bibles Between 100 and 200 Years Old

Bibles of the 1800’s to very early 1900’s are, as difficult as this is for many people to comprehend, still not old enough to be considered truly “antique” by most dealers.  While not as common as their ubiquitous less than centenarian counterparts discussed above; they were still generally speaking, produced in fairly high quantities to fill the popular demand for Family Bibles in America throughout the days of Westward Expansion during the 1800’s and into the Industrial Revolution of the late 1800’s to early 1900’s.

There are of course some exceptions, such as special editions and first editions of historically important Bibles of the 1800’s… but these are few and far between.  Rather than focus upon these rare exceptions to the rule, the general rule itself remains, that Bibles less than 200 years old are in most cases not of interest to dealers or collectors.

Antique Bibles of the 1700’s - Well Over 200 Years Old

We now begin in earnest, our discussion of truly antique Bibles. One distinguishing feature of most Bibles printed in the 1700’s (in contrast to older Bibles of the 1600’s and back) is that they were printed on wood pulp based paper, just as nearly all books today are still printed on wood pulp based paper. The advent of affordable books was due primarily to the ability to make paper cheaply from wood pulp, rather than from expensive cotton. This is why, prior to the 1700’s, it was generally only the wealthy who owned books.  Once cheap paper production was possible, the “common man” could afford to have at least a modest library of books at home.

Another distinguishing characteristic of the antique Bibles of the 1700’s is the technological manner is which they were printed. Prior to the 1700’s, books were made using the tedious and laborious and expensive process of the movable type press, invented by Gutenberg in 1455.  Each letter had to be laid into a tray like a jigsaw puzzle. During the 1700’s however, the leap forward to “stereotyping” was made.  Whole pages were etched into a single sheet of metal.  This was not only quicker and cheaper, but it also allowed printers to keep the etched metal plates and run off more copies of a book later, if desired.

These two advances: cheap paper and more efficient production, made books and Bibles an attainable part of everyday life for literate people living in the 1700’s or later, as opposed to being very costly luxury items and status symbols of the affluent owners of estate homes, as books and Bibles had been in the 1600’s and earlier.

From the standpoint of the rare Bible and antique Bible collector, there are two types of English language Bibles of the 1700’s.  The first is Bibles printed in England in the 1700’s.  These range from standard “quarto” size editions owned by individuals and families, to larger “folio” size editions, used by churches and seminaries on their pulpits and lecterns.  The next, is the far more rare and potentially valuable, Bibles printed in America in the mid to late 1700’s.  Put simply, Bibles printed in England in the 1700’s can be somewhat desirable to collectors, but Bibles printed in America in the 1700’s are extremely desirable treasures.  This is mostly due to the fact that American Colonists of the 1700’s imported most of their Bibles from England, and the print shops of early America had more modest equipment, and less access to quality paper. As a result, American antique Bible printings of the 1700’s are rare and highly sought after.

Antique Bibles of the 1600’s & 1500’s

We must go all the way back to the 1600’s, and even to the 1500’s, to encounter the “First Editions” and the subsequent but still “Early Editions” of all the ancient Bibles in the English language.  Whether it is the 1611 First Edition of the beloved King James Bible, or the 1568 Bishops Bible, or 1560 Geneva Bible, or 1539 Great Bible, or 1537 Matthew-Tyndale Bible, or 1535 Coverdale Bible… the era of the truly ancient Bibles is the 1500’s and 1600’s. This is where most rare and antique Bible collectors focus most of their attention, and resultantly, this is the type of material an antique Bible dealer will want to acquire as well.

The antique Bibles of the 1500’s and 1600’s were printed on expensive cotton paper, and made using the ancient movable type printing press equipment. These printings are therefore works of art.  Typically printed in small quantities of not more than a few thousand copies, and with only a tiny percentage of those originals surviving the ravages of time; these Bibles are quite rare, as well as being ancient. An excellent overview of the history of each of these ancient translations of the Bible can be found by reading our brief illustrated English Bible History.

Rare Bibles

Having examined the definition of “antique Bible” in detail, we now turn our attention to what qualifies as being a “rare Bible”.  This is a far more simple, straightforward concept.  While age alone can eventually make something antique, in order for something to be rare, it needs to truly be scarce.  There is often considerable overlap between antiquity and rarity, but the two are not the same. Likewise, age and rarity are components of value, but they do not necessarily equate to value.

Consider for example, a Bible that was a limited press run of just a few hundred copies, published by a ministry or Bible publisher, just a few years ago, or a few decades ago.  That would be rare today… but it certainly would not be antique by even the most liberal of definitions. In all likelihood, it would also not be very valuable.  Similarly, some secular publishers have produced “limited edition” Bibles within the past few decades.  Clearly, a Bible can be rare without necessarily being antique.

This is why most collectors looking for historically important and valuable Bibles focus their search on the far more appropriate and accurate term “antique Bibles” rather than the relevant and related but not nearly as accurate term “rare Bibles”.

Valuable Bibles

Can a Bible be both antique and rare … and yet still not be very valuable?  Yes, absolutely. That may seem counter-intuitive at first, but let’s consider this more carefully.  Antiquity is attained simply through age.  Rarity is attainted simply through scarcity.  But for something to also be truly valuable, there has to be market demand for it. That demand generally implies particular historical relevance.

For example, there are antique Bibles of the late 1700’s, printed in England, that are not historically significant editions.  They are merely generic King James Version printings of standard quarto size or smaller, with no special features, no illustrations, no commentary notes, typeset in a rather plain manner. They are unquestionably antique, and also fairly rare… but… who cares?  They do not represent an important edition, or even a particularly aesthetically desirable edition.  If they are in good shape, by virtue of the fact that they are late 1700’s Bibles, they will be worth at least a few hundred dollars… but not thousands of dollars. These type of Bibles are often picked up by the person on tight budget who just wants to own a very old Bible, and that’s great, but it is not really of interest to the serious collector.

Even among Bibles that are ancient and rare and valuable, we still see that market demand, which we might also refer to as general popularity, can dictate price in a way that is unexpected to many.  An example of this would be the current market value of a 1611 King James Pulpit Folio First Edition Bible, which is generally $150,000 to $450,000, even though there are close to 200 of these extant today, making them only moderately rare.  In contrast, a 1560 Geneva Bible First Edition would have a market value of closer to just $75,000 to $125,000, in spite of the fact that there are not more than a dozen of them extant today!  Ironically, the far less rare Bible is worth far more. This is for one simple reason: the market demand for the beloved and immensely popular 1611 KJV Bible far outstrips the market demand for the less well known 1560 Geneva Bible… even though the 1560 Geneva Bible very historically important, and about twenty times as rare, and 51 years older than the 1611 KJV.

Another aspect that could potentially disqualify an antique and rare Bible from being valuable is condition. No matter how old or rare a Bible is, if it is not complete, or not in good condition, its market value will be severely negatively impacted. Given two antique Bibles of the same edition, if one is missing several pages and has cropped headlines and heavy oxidization, that less desirable copy might fetch only one-tenth the price of the one in more pristine condition. More details on this can be found by reading our helpful Antique Bible Buyer’s Guide.

Original Source: https://greatsite.com/antique-rare-valuable-bibles/

Thursday, May 5, 2022

Know All About The Bible Museum

This post isn't about the Washington, DC-based Museum of the Bible. Instead, it's about the interesting journey of The Bible Museum and how it grew up to become a popular name worldwide from its modest start. It all began without any plan, but by God's grace, it grew so big that people from far and wide now come to the online site as well as the physical store to browse and buy ancient and rare Bibles and Bible leaves.

Since 1987, The Bible Museum has been the largest dealer of antique and rare Bibles globally. Its sales figures for rare Bibles are significantly more than the collective total of all other dealers selling rare books worldwide. Since 1996, the online shop of The Bible Museum has been functioning at GREATSITE.COM. This popular website finds preference with thousands of other websites of ministries, churches, and individuals who enthusiastically link to it. Perhaps this popularity explains why the site attracts thousands of daily visitors. The Bible Museum also has a physical showroom in Phoenix, Arizona, that stays open round the clock. If you're wanting to learn more about The Bible Museum, read on the learn more.

Beginning of the Bible Museum

It all began in 1987 when Dr. Craig Lampe, who was then the World Bible Society's International Director, shared his idea of building a unique company with Dr. Jonathan Byrd - his old friend. This friend was one of the bigshots in Indy Car Racing and was chosen in 2002 for the Indianapolis Speedrome Hall of Fame. Dr. Lampe's idea was to capture the market of antique and rare Bibles by establishing an organization to repair and conserve the antique printings of God's Word for upcoming generations and put these magnificent assets up for sale. This idea was to grow this organization into the world's principal source for antique and rare Bibles.

Antique Bibles

At that time, Dr. Byrd had just sold all seven franchises of his Kentucky Fried Chicken and was getting ready to construct America's largest cafeteria. But perhaps it was divine intervention that made him decide to support his friend's idea financially. This paved the way for establishing the company named Jonathan Byrd's Rare Books Bibles. This company didn't have any brick-and-mortar store or public display area during its early days. It was positioned in a small storage room without any windows in the offices above Dr. Byrd's Cafeteria in Indiana's Greenwood. It was just people's word-of-mouth referrals that helped others find their way to the company. Surprisingly, by 1989, the company grew to become the largest dealer of antique and rare Bibles globally.

In 1994, a hobby collector of old Bibles named John Jeffcoat was feeling disheartened as he couldn't find Bibles printed before the 1800s. From a rare book dealer, he got the phone number of Dr. Craig Lampe. After two short calls, he took a 1,200+ miles round-trip to visit Dr. Lampe's little shop that had established its near-monopoly in the field of antique and rare Bibles. He returned home two days later, armed with his first purchase from the store.

Antique Bibles

Two years later, John Jeffcoat shared his idea of creating a website with Dr. Lampe that he said would display a sampling of the company's extensive and magnificent inventory of antique Bibles and Bible leaves. Jeffcoat planned to leverage printed advertisements and search engine listings for the website to make the public aware of his splendid material that they could easily access. And thus, GREATSITE.COM was born that houses The Bible Museum.

The Bible Museum's Story Continues

The site and The Bible Museum got such a great response that within a few weeks of the site going live, John quit his full-time job to ensure he could easily handle the deluge of incoming emails and calls from around the world.

Antique Bibles

The Bible Museum encouraged several people to turn into collectors as nothing could be as rewarding as owning the earliest and some of the rarest prints of God's Word. You could hardly find anything more precious than these antique Bibles. Even when it comes to family heirlooms or astute investments, it is hard to imagine a more intriguing investment than these rare Bibles offered by The Bible Museum.

As the website grew and started raking in annual sales to the tune of millions of dollars and 1,000+ daily visitors, the need for a more elegant storefront showroom was felt. Dr. Byrd was then constructing three new lavish hotels in suburban Phoenix, Arizona. Finally, in 1999, the company headquarters shifted from Indiana's Greenwood to Arizona's Goodyear.

Antique Bibles

Today, The Bible Museum is located in the Grand Lobby of one of the most stunning new hotels in Arizona, where the showroom stays open 24/7 for visitors. However, you can only make in-person purchases at The Bible Museum during standard business hours, by appointment.

Original Source: https://greatsitethebiblemuseum.blogspot.com/2022/05/know-all-about-bible-museum.html

Thursday, April 14, 2022

Top 5 Reasons to Buy Ancient Bibles

Saint Jerome once said that lack of knowledge of sacred scripture is equivalent to ignorance of Christ. This may send you rushing for your Bible, but instead of having your usual copy, why not get your hands on an ancient Bible? A rare, ancient Bible is worth the investment, especially if you steer clear of the dubious elements and buy from a reputed and reliable dealer of rare and ancient Bibles.

Not sure why you should buy an ancient Bible? Here are the top five reasons:

Keep Yourself Grounded, Albeit In Style

Ancient Bibles

All of us are God’s children. However, in today’s fast-paced, highly competitive, stress-filled world, it could be very easy for you to lose touch with this reality. You could forget who you truly are when battling life’s blues. Taking some time out to browse through the leaves of your ancient Bible will help to keep you grounded by reminding you of who you truly are. When you read the scripture often, you’ll realize Christ is with you, even on your stress-filled, sloppy days or during those times when everything seems to go wrong. Though you can read your standard Bible too to stay grounded, leafing through your ancient Bible will give the activity a dash of class and style.

A Great Item to Display

Ancient Bibles

For devout Christians, an ancient Bible that’s 300 to 500 years old and comes beautifully bound in leather is an item to cherish and display with pride. Even if you aren’t a devout Christians, an antique Bible is a stunning addition to your home for sure. Not every house you walk into will have a rare and ancient Bible on display. This makes acquiring your copy of an ancient Bible all the more significant. If you’re looking for great display items for your abode and want to steer clear of the usual fare, you can consider getting an ancient Bible. Whether you’re spiritually inclined or not, getting an ancient Bible printed in the 1500s and 1600s will make a marvelous addition to your abode.

A Good Conversation Starter

Ancient Bibles

Since people are typically quite willing to discuss religion, having an ancient Bible can be a great conversation starter. If you’re entertaining guests you’re meeting for the first time, such a rare copy of the Bible can also act as an ice-breaker. Instead of forcibly starting some religious discussion, which could seem extremely intimidating and awkward, answering questions about your ancient Bible can set the stage for free-flowing conversations with your guests. Those who marvel at the ancient Bible in your possession are likely to ask questions like where you got it from, what encouraged you to buy it, what are your opinions about the purchase now that you have it, and a lot more. This could be a fun way to talk about your prized possession and even steer the discussion to a different topic after you and your guests settle down comfortably.

Could Become a Family Heirloom

Ancient Bibles

An ancient Bible is much more than a mere item to display in your abode. This prized possession of yours can become a family heirloom that’s passed down from you to your children and from them to your grandchildren. By passing down this ancient Bible from one generation to the other, you not only ensure its safekeeping but also help your family members understand the significance of the religious scripture. You may even attach your personal notes and reflections to this ancient Bible. For instance, saying that you believe in your children and in God who loves they will be a real encouragement to them, especially during stressful times when you would no longer be present in person.

A Great Gift

An ancient Bible is a great gift for your family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, etc. You can give the Bible as a gift at weddings, Christmas, baptisms or baby christenings, graduations, or when welcoming new members to the church. By sending your recipients God’s wisdom through His own words, together with His unending love, you can make them feel special. And since this isn’t your ordinary Bible but a rare, ancient Bible, it makes the gift all the more special and thoughtful.

Ready to Buy an Ancient Bible?

Now that you have learned the top five reasons for buying an ancient Bible, are you ready to act? Find a reliable and reputed dealer here for antique and rare Bibles to buy your copy of an ancient Bible for the world's most unusual gift-shop.

Things to Look for in the Geneva Bible Facsimile Reproduction

  In the history of Bible translations, the Geneva Bible occupies a special place. It preceded the KJV ( King James Version ) by 51 years. C...