Antique Bible needs repair

Is this beyond salvaging? It's going up for auction today and the auction company left it outside in the elements all week. Any idea how expensive restoration is?

 

Ouch. I wouldn't pay much for one in that condition. I've taken book-binding classes, and it's relatively easy to reattach a leather cover, but that cover looks disintegrated.

 

It definitely is starting too. I think I can get it super cheap but will have to hang around all day. So sad cause it was beautiful

 

Poor Bible -- It does have a beautiful cover.

If it has any family history written in it, it would be valuable to rescue it for that purpose. People who do genealogical research can use family information written in old Bibles as a help in their research.

 

Very few "old Bibles" are worth much at auction. I learned a bit from an antiquarian bookseller many years ago - and the nineteenth century saw scads of "Family Bibles" sold, and most not worth the cost of rebinding. Unless it is an extremely notable edition, has illustrations with collectible value, or has important connections to someone famous, it would be of interest only to a person connected to that family.

Such editions do exist, but are a tiny number as a percentage.

 

I sometimes buy mass-produced old books for art projects (please, keep the hissing to a minimum).

My experience in researching old Bibles for value has been pretty much as @Dave47 has said. Unless they have family info, there are way more that you cannot give away than can be sold.

 

Well I paid $20 now I need a repairman

 

You may find it too cost prohibitive to repair. Particularly if the particular bible has a low resale value.
What year was it printed? By whom?
You can check abebooks.com for comparable values in good condition.


Are the pictures lithographs? There may be more value in selling the pictures individually.
I don't normally advise taking a book apart, but in this case, you might consider it.

 

I'll try to show more later. I had found a very similar one with an asking price of $1700. Didn't have time to research actual solds but the clasps were Sterling and it's definitely quality

 

At $20 you can't get burned too badly. They don't resell for much, but if it contains genealogical materials it's worth saving. The sterling mounts definitely are, if nothing else. I hate to toss a Bible, but sometimes you have to. This is a case where I might frame out the cover too, if nothing else.

 

@Atlantic Jim Any updates on this? Its such a beautiful Bible and I'd love to know if you found any records. Such a travesty that it was left out all week, unless it was already it that condition surely someone would have thought to keep it from the elements?

 

I hope he replies. He last logged in here in August 2019.

 

Yeah I saw that too, would be a shame if he never came back!

 

Fingers crossed that he will!