Antique Bible Buying Guide
Interested in purchasing an antique Bible? Whether you're looking for an early King James Bible to serve as a cherished family heirloom, planning to gift a Geneva Bible for a birthday or wedding anniversary, considering antique Bibles as an investment, or aspiring to build your own collection, we understand that some customers may feel uncertain or intimidated by the terminology in the antiquarian book trade. To assist you, we'll begin by providing an overview of the technical terms in this industry and then delve into the various factors that influence the price of an antique Bible.
Technical Terms
Bibles in folio, quarto, and octavo format (from left to right)
Size:
Books are made out of large sheets of paper. These sheets are folded to make the format of a book. Typical formats include folio, quarto, and octavo. For a folio (2°), sheets were folded in half resulting in two leaves or four pages. For a quarto (4°), sheets were folded twice, resulting in four leaves or eight pages. For an octavo book (8°), sheets were folded three times, resulting in eight leaves or sixteen pages. Folding could continue for even smaller formats. Folio Bibles are the largest in size (11-20” tall), followed by quarto Bibles (8-10.75” tall), and octavo Bibles (6-7.5” tall). Sizes can vary depending on the dimensions of the original sheet used for printing.
Collation:
Refers to the manner and order in which leaves are gathered into signatures and bound into one book. Collation enables us to determine whether any pages are missing and allows us to determine which version or edition of the book we have before us. Bible dealers and collectors use catalogues such as A.S. Herbert’s Historical Catologue of Printed Bibles or T. H. Darlow and H. F. Moule’s Historical Catalogue of the Printed Editions of Holy Scripture in the Library of the British and Foreign Bible Society to date and list Bibles accurately.
The Genealogies by John Speed that Portray the Lineage from Adam to Christ
Extra Features:
A variety of additional works were frequently bound in with the Bible text. One example is the Illustrated Genealogies by J.S. Speed. This is a pictorial representation of thirty four pages of the lineage from Adam to Christ with an optional double page map of the promised land. Another is the Book of Common Prayer. This is the Church of England’s guide to communion, baptism, weddings, and other ceremonies. A third example is a Metrical Psalter, which is a book of Psalms with wording conducive to congregational singing and often includes musical notation. Sometimes a Calendar would be included which would contain daily Scripture readings and important holy days.
Provenance:
There are times when the ownership of a Bible can be traced back through a famous person. The provenance of a book details the ownership record of a Bible as it is passed through certain families, collectors, or members of the royal family.
A Woodcut of the Israelite camp around the Tabernacle
Woodcuts:
Illustrations were created by special craftsmen who would carve an image onto a block of wood in relief. The non-printed parts would be carved out, leaving the desired image level with the block. Ink was then added to the block and pressed onto the page leaving the desired woodcut illustration.
Red-ruled:
A Geneva Bible that has been ruled in red
For a small percentage of Bibles, the borders and important parts of the text would be marked using a straightedge and red ink. Each page would be outlined by a scribe after printing, which was a very detail oriented and time-consuming practice. Red-ruling makes the text stand out, easier to read, and was a practice used by the very wealthy of the time.
Binding:
Antique Bibles are always hardcover and can be bound in a variety of different leathers over wooden boards, each providing a slightly different texture and color. Printing and binding were two different events, with as much as twenty years between them. The book would be printed and stiched in sheets, and then later bound to order. The binding of book is not expected to last more than around two hundred years, with the spine being the first to decay. Many Bibles have therefore been previously rebound (new leather everywhere) or rebacked (new leather to the spine only). The earlier boards are frequently retained and reused whenever a rebacking or rebinding takes place. It is rare to find a Bible in its contemporary binding, and even more rare to find the original metal hardware that accompanied it.
A Bible in a contemporary binding with clasps
A Bible that has been rebound in full calf leather
Margins:
The perimeter of the page or the text block of the book sees frequent wear, soiling, and some tearing. Bibles were originally printed with wide margins and these were sometimes trimmed down when a book was rebound in order to provide a more pleasing appearance.
An Illuminated page
Illumination:
The process in which printed text is supplemented with borders and decorative initials. In this complex and costly process, gold leaf and various colors are applied to make a very attractive look.
A hand-colored woodcut illustration
Hand-Colored Illustrations:
Woodcut illustrations were sometimes enhanced by adding color. This process was completed by hand, applying color to an already printed black and white plate. The coloring was frequently done at the time of publication, according to the printer’s orders.
Font:
Antique Bibles are presented in a typeface style of either a black letter font or a Roman font. The black letter font is a calligraphy type Gothic font that is beautiful in appearance whereas the Roman font is easier to read, and more akin to the font currently in use today.
A Bible printed in Roman font
A Bible printed in black letter font.
Factors that Contribute to the Price of an Antique Bible
FORMAT:
Many antique Bibles are in quarto format. Folio Bibles are worth more than quarto Bibles. Folio Bibles are easier to read, frequently contain more woodcuts, and are more desirable among collectors.
Collation:
The completeness of the Bible text is very important. Any missing leaves from the Biblical text can reduce its value and should be clearly noted in any description. The general title page and the New Testament title page are also very valuable.
Provenance:
A Bible that has proof of ownership of a famous person, an important Bible collector, or a royal family member will increase in value. Bookplates of famous people or their signatures will add to its value as well.
Woodcuts:
The number and types of illustrations in a Bible can add to its price. Bibles with a full set of Geneva illustrations and maps are worth more than Bibles that do not contain these woodcuts.
Red-ruled:
Bibles that are ruled in red are more beautiful in appearance and more desirable. Only a small fraction of Bibles (around 10%) are ruled in red.
Extra Features:
The number of extra features (Book of Common Prayer, Calendar, Genealogies, Psalter, etc.) adds more value to a Bible.
Margins:
A Bible with large margins is worth more than a Bible that has been trimmed. Sometimes these are known as “taller copies.”
Font:
The font size or type generally does not impact the price of the Bible, unless a particular font adds rarity to an edition.
Early Edition:
An older Bible is worth more than a more recent one. A first printing or an early printing can be worth far more than a later edition.
Misprints:
A Bible with a famous misprint can add to its value.
Scarcity:
An edition with fewer surviving copies in institutions or in private hands can add to the value of the book.
Condition:
Perhaps we saved the best for last. Condition has the most significant impact on price. A Bible with soiling, damp stain, tearing, and broken hinges will be less valuable than a Bible with clean, crisp pages, wide margins, and a solid binding.
Types of Bibles We Have For Sale
Now that you have a general overview of the technical terms and an awareness of some of the factors that contribute to the price of a rare and antique Bible, feel free to check out some of our Bible offerings. If you have further questions, you can always contact us or view our FAQ section.
Geneva Bible
The Bible that traveled with the Puritans to America. Quoted by Shakespeare and used by John Bunyan. Designed and illustrated for instructing the reader, the Geneva Bible is the first ever Study Bible. With a complete set of 33 illustrations and maps, the reader could dive into the Scriptures from the comfort of their own home. The Geneva Bible is the first to include verses and cross references, as well as marginal notes for understanding the Scriptures. The Geneva Bible was first printed in 1560, and remained popular long after the King James Bible was first available.
King James Bible
The King James Bible has been referred to as the most important book in English. Its impact on the English language and culture is vast, known as a treasure house of prose and has changed the way English is spoken. While popularity for the King James Bible grew slowly after initial publication in 1611, by the end of the 17th century the King James Translation was the dominant text. It would remain that way for centuries. King James Bibles were initially printed without illustrations, but after 1660 woodcuts and engravings began to be included.
Family Bible
These heirloom Bibles were intended for family use and to be handed down for generations. Most include numerous illustrations, beautifully engraved leather covers, and metal clasps with all edges gold gilt. Equipped with commentary, maps, concordances, and other study aids, the family Bible became a go to all inclusive source for studying the Bible, with some weighing up to 16 pounds.
