So here's some pics of the latest (and best) item in my collection:
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BrianT |
A rare find, a 1589 Geneva!! |
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Several weeks ago, I stumbled across an old classified ad for a old Bible. I contacted the seller to see if he still had it and for more info. He still had it,
and he said he didn't know much about it but he found one page in it that said "1588". Excited but a bit skeptical, I arranged to see it, and it
was a genuine 1589 edition Geneva! (The date of 1588 in on a "Book of Psalms in Metre" included in the back). It's NOT a reprint, it's the
real thing. It's in half-decent condition, but some of the front matter (main title page, preface, etc.) is missing - the first page is Genesis 1. There
also appears to be a few pages missing at the end of Proverbs, and the spine binding needs replacing. It's about 9"x7"x3". He took $1000 for
it (my wife almost choked), although several people had previously told him it was worth more (it hasn't been formally appraised). Doing some research, I
figure it's worth at least that much, and maybe double or more if I got it rebound. He wanted it "to go to a good home".
So here's some pics of the latest (and best) item in my collection:
Brian
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amarillo |
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WOW, thx for sharing! better get it insured, Brian.
Joseph Ng
"For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven." Ps 119:89 KJB |
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gconan |
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Congratulations Brian!
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SAWBONES |
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A beautiful rarity. Congratulations.
Please let us know what you find out about whether rebinding will enhance or reduce value. (In antique firearms, value is most often reduced by refinishing, even when done to appropriate period standards.) |
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kiwiray |
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Insurance, I think!
"And, behold, I tell you these things that you may learn wisdom; that you may learn that when you are in the service of your fellow beings, you are only
in the service of your God". (Mosiah ch1.49 - RLDS version)
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BrianT |
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Ya, I will be looking into an appraisal and insurance. http://www.greatsite.com and http://www.rarebiblesandmore.com both look like good sites for information and comparison, and I have been going over
them. On the former, I found one appraised at $9K-$15K (but in better condition), while on the latter, one (also in better condition) can be bought for under
$3K. Regardless of the value, it's a gem, and I didn't buy it just to turn around and sell it!
To answer Sawbones's question, that's what I thought too, but greatsite.com indicates that the binding has little effect on price, and is analogous to giving a restored classic automobile a new paint job - i.e. it's the body itself (the pages) that matters. Still, I won't do anything without getting several formal opinions first.
Brian
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Armchair Scholar |
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Congrats, Brian! What a beautiful old book.
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Scott McClare |
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It's the blackletter print that really fascinates me. The Geneva in 1560 was the first Bible printed in roman text, which of course is much easier to read;
the 1589 being in blackletter makes me wonder why they decided to go retro.
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gconan |
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Because with a little practice, it is just as easy. Or perhaps almost as easy. It just seems difficult because we are not use to it.
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forcyncia |
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Brian - what can we say - this was probably the find of a lifetime - as far as old books and other finds things go.
Congratulations.
forcyncia
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