Captain's Log: Antiquarian Bible Book Values
- Jeffrey A. Rothermel
- 1 hour ago
- 6 min read
Original Posting on December 24, 2023
Updated on December 27, 2025
Unraveling
the Mystery
of Book Values
Captain's Log: 27 December 2025
Determining When to Buy and Sell a Vintage Book.
Solving the Mystery.
Note: The originally listed price, was often not the final price at which the item sold.
Current Book Value Cold Case Status:
Unsolved.
"How hard can it be to sell a book?" I asked myself in the year 2017. Self-education is a long, sometimes tough journey. Some of my first antiquarian Bibles took fourteen months to sell. My most recent century-old-Bible took thirteen days. The one thing I have learned is there is so much more to learn.
This essay will not reveal the secret formula for determining the value of an antiquarian Holy Bible, old book or piece of printed paper. Such science does not exist. No one has developed a mathematical model that can predict what a human being will pay for an item at a specific point in time. Or have they?* Will artificial intelligence (AI) ever get to the point that it can accurately predict book values?
*Captain's Book Shoppe specializes in science fiction & fantasy. The all-knowing computer is in many a book. We also sell great mysteries.
This essay's theme highlights the awesome mystery of antiquarian books and pricing. Used book prices listed on the internet are literally the desired asking prices. This is sometimes called "aspirational pricing." The actual figure the book sold at may not be the listed tag price found on the internet.
As a Christian, the Captain respectfully trades in spirituality, religion of all types, and scholarly commentaries. There remains a high demand for English/Hebrew Tanakhs and English/Arabic Qur'ans that are in VERY GOOD condition. The key factor is that there is normally an English translation along with the other language. If you are thinking about selling or buying an interesting religious text, please stop by Captain's Book Shoppe or give us a call on the phone.
Many Bibles are inexpensive, as you can see below when reviewing the prices for which Captain's Book actually sold the items. Some rare books, due to provenance (who used or owned the book), or due to its scarcity and high demand can be worth significant sums of money. Book condition matters. If the book needs to be repaired or restored- that equates into the price and who buys it next.
What is a Rare Book?
A rare book is traditionally defined as "any book which has an enhanced value because the demand for the book exceeds the supply, usually because of its importance, scarcity, age, condition, physical and aesthetic properties, association, or subject matter. If there is no demand for a book, it will probably not become a rare book even if the other factors exist. It is of little or no value if no one wants it. Demand can change as interests change." (Source: U.S. National Park Service, Conserve O Gram 19/1 July 1993)
The Bible is arguably, one of the most printed books in the world. Some have historical value. Some have sentimental value to a specific family.
How does one determine if the old book [Bible] is common or rare?
Short Answer. How many copies of the item are also currently listed for sale on the internet?
Longer answer. There are nuances and special circumstances for books which make them coveted. Your book might be one of those special cases. You are welcome to call me to discuss.
The Captain welcomes your insights on this topic. Feel free to give him a phone call at (319) 351-3166 or send him an email at: Jeffrey@CaptainsBookShoppe.com. You can also enter your comment below.
Signed,
Captain Jeff the Bookseller
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Captain's Antiquarian Bibles Starting at $25
October 27, 2022
Captain's Book Shoppe LLC
1570 S. 1st Ave, Suite H
Iowa City, IA 52240 USA
Phone: (319) 351-3166
Tuesday, October 25, 2022 Arrivals:
Cash and Carry In-Store-Sale Ongoing, While Supplies Last.
Cash + tax & carry, in-store, Antiquarian Bible Specials while supplies last:
1. Lower Front: SOLD 15 DEC 2023
Hardbound Leather Holy Bible Philadelphia: M. Carey, 1814 =
$75 cash + tax (in store special): SOLD DEC 15, 2023 for $50
2. Left: SOLD
AEG Hardbound Leather Bible Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott, 1847 (Front board not attached at hinge). =
$25 cash + tax (in store special)
3. Back Center: SOLD
Illustrated Bible (Boards not attached.) New York: Harper, 1846 =
$25 cash + tax (in store special)
4. Right: SOLD
Family Devotional Bible.
Boards not attached to Bible. New York: Virtue, no date =
$35
Cataloged Bibles
SKU: CPT Bible 1 SOLD
SKU: CPT Bible 2 SOLD
SKU: CPT Bible 3c SOLD: June 10, 2023
1886 Illustrated KJV & Revised Parallel-Column Holy Bible
Bible 3c: SOLD:
1886 Holy Bible (English) Illustrated, Pictorial Family Bible King James Version (KJV) and Revised Version in Parallel-Column.
Complete Concordance. "2000 Scripture Illustrations on steel, wood, and in colors." Three Page history of the translation of the Bible. Sixteen page history of the religious denominations of the World. Syracuse, NY Bible Publishing House 1886 Approx.: 12.5"x11"x5.25" Approx. Weight 14.5 pounds GOOD CONDITION. Hardbound, antique Bible. Raised brown boards with golden illustrations. Bumped corners and edges of boards are worn (rubbed). Rubbed and sunned decorative raised band spine. Spine has seven raised brown leather bands with gold illustrations and lettering in six compartments. Head and foot shelf wear to front and back boards to include the head and foot of the boards and spine. All gilt edge text block (golden color). Two reflective, grey-silverish-colored metal-hinged-clasps. Both clasps work (snap closed onto the catch). Hinges freely rotate! Clasps have minor abrasion marks. Tight binding. Unmarked pages. No after publishing markings noted in the Bible. No Family information in the Bible. Cardboard frames in the back of the Bible for family pictures. Front and back, blue pastedown page: Heavy cardstock pastedown and endpaper do not appear to be original. Discoloration, fading to blue pastedown and single front and back endpage. Front and back inside hinges taped. (Refer to photos). All pages appear readable and remain tightly bound. Light foxing on a few pages. o Title Page showing signs it may become loose in the future. (Refer to photo 8: RED TITLE PAGE). o Page 9 of History, two spots. o Two one inch stains on page 3 of "History of Religious Denominations..."1886 Illustrated KJV & Revised Parallel-Column Holy Bible SKU: CPT Bible 3c List Price: $400.00 + tax & applicable shipping. (Cash, check, debit/credit card).
Sold Price: $300 + tax & shipping, June 10, 2023
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SKU: Bible 4c SOLD
1888 Embossed Leather Altemus Edition: HOLY BIBLE
1888 Embossed Leather Altemus Oxford Edition: SOLD HOLY BIBLE Philadelphia: Henry Altemus FAIR CONDITION. Hardbound book cover: Embossed leather flower pattern on dark colored, checkered squares on padded leather board. Bumped hardbound corners. Chipped leather on corner of book. Outer hinge wear, showing light brown rubbed leather. Head and foot shelf wear to boards. 3/4" gold lettering on center of spine states: "hOLY BIBLE." 1/4" golden lettering on foot of spine states: "OXFORD EDITION." Golden colored All Edges Gilt (AEG) with reddish discoloration. Bumped gilt edging. Damp stain top of the page vicinity the hinge. Old and New Testaments Apcrypha and Psalms Complete Concordance "Upwards of twenty thousand notes, critical and explanatory, selected from great standard authors of Europe and America, by Rev Walter McGilvray, D.D." Chipped leather corner. Minor staining throughout book. Damp stain top edge of text block, light foxing, slightly soiled end page. Pages 943-950 severe damp stain at top of pages. Last page in book 3" tear at top of page. Tight Binding. Approx Dimensions: 13"x 10.75"x3.75" Approx. Weight: 13.5 pounds $150 + tax & applicable shipping. (Cash, check, debit/credit card). SOLD December 20, 2023
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November13, 2025 Update:
1882 Leather King James Antiquarian Bible
Listed October 20, 2025 on eBay
Sold November 2, 2025 (13 days)
$320
"How hard can it be to sell a book?" I asked myself in the year 2017. Self-education is a long, sometimes tough journey. Some of my first antiquarian Bibles took fourteen months to sell. My most recent century-old-Bible took thirteen days. The one thing I have learned is there is so much more to learn.
Read more details about the 1882 King James Bible at:
Determining When to Buy and Sell a Vintage Book.
Solving the Mystery
Remains a Fund
Adventure. =====
RETURN POLICY
1. All in store book sales are "as is" upon completion of the sale. No refunds for books that are bought in store. (We may rebuy your book, once you are done using it!)
2. Internet Sales. If there is an issue with an order, please call Jeffrey at 319 351-3166 to discuss possible options. The other method of contact is by sending an email to jeffrey@captainsbookshoppe.onmircrosoft.com.
Standard Internet Sales & Return Policy: The Captain accepts internet returns. The customer is responsible for return postage.
Refund will be issued upon safe receipt of the item.
Captain's Book Shoppe covers return shipping costs if in the rare instance, there was an error in the listing or if the item was lost or damaged during shipment.
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About the author: Jeffrey Alan Rothermel, bookseller and owner of Captain's Book Shoppe LLC:
Additional Captain's Logs about Book Value:
