Old Bible

I was reading the written text hoping to find clues about the writer, and noticed his use of the name JEHOVAH, when it's not in the printed text.

The English letter 'J' was created in 1524, and it plus any vowels didn't appear in the ancient Hebrew written language. I debated this years ago on a Christian Website and don't want to start that here.

In early English Bibles 'Jesus' was 'Iesvs' (the New Testament was written in Greek not Hebrew).

This is all very confusing, and takes us off the subject of this particular Bible.
That's why I want to show it to an expert.

 

It's more than just an old family Bible printed by Eyer and Spottiswood!
And needs to be in the hands of an expert, before it is destroyed.

 

I hope u find the expert you're looking for.....

It seems we've been all the help that we can be for now..

 

Should I ask theses people?:
WHAT IS MY OLD BIBLE WORTH? - Rare Book Buyer.com - We Buy Old and Rare Books, Libraries, and Entire Estates. Immediate PaymentRare Book Buyer.com – We Buy Old and Rare Books, Libraries, and Entire Estates. Immediate Payment

Remember it's not an old family Bible. It's not in perfect condition. The front page is loose, but all the pages are there and nearly every page has this experts notes on it. Lots of Verses are re-written. If it can't be restored it could be perhaps transferred to a disk before it's too late.

 

Maybe not. That site only buys pre-1800 Bibles.

The value of having all the information here is that I may be able to simply direct them to this site, because it has all the searching I've done and heaps of photos. I wouldn't have to go through all of this again.

 

I have been collecting bibles for over 20 years now, I started with bibles like yours and moved on to older and illustrated ones when I could afford them.
Please be careful with valuations. A specialist will likely charge more than the book is worth and there is no quarantee that you can sell the bible for the price. And its probable that you get higher evaluation because nobody wants to charge 100$ for the valuation of a 50$ bible. Usually I would suggest to get a valuation at a book auction house, but just like the dealer you mentioned most will say its to young and to cheap for a sale at auction and will not invest the time to research the handwriting.

I think the "Entered at Stationers Hall" was printed with the bible, I see no reason why someone would stamp handwriten annotations in a bible. The preface mentions not only experts but also clergymen and students. This could be the bible of someome who went to bible study every week and wrote down what the teacher said, or of a pious man/woman who wrote in the bible what he/she read in other books. Even if the annotations were written by a scholar or expert, most of them are forgotten today and therefore its hard to find someone who would be willing to pay more for it than for a plain bible.

 

If you look closely, the "Entered at Stationers Hall" is not exactly horizontal. Its parallel with the written notes, but neither is parallel on the page, so my guess it is a stamp. It's not just the Bible that was written on that I think is interesting, it's the written notes.
The preface mentions experts and glergymen, not "to be read in church", and I haven't been able to find an exact match on ebay with such wide margins.
If they are the notes are just by a religious student who went to Bible study then wanted to have his notes stamped at the Stationers Hall, then an expert will tell me that.

I'll get a free evaluation by 'What's is Worth?', not at a Site that buys old books and is more likely to say its just a cheap Bible. If it's "just a cheap Bible", then I'll accept that. At least I'll know exactly what to advertise it as.

I have no one to pass it on to, and only keep in touch with one cousin on Dad's side older than me who shares the same grandmother but wasn't related to Pop.

 

I'd add a photo of me to this site if I knew how.
Or is that just for long time members?

 

I don't know what to do guys. Can anyone advise me?

I emailed wilcoxhallappraisers@gmail.com last Wednesday night (Australian time), gave a description of my Bible, attatched two photos and linked them to this site for more information and photos.
I attempted to make a payment of $9.95 using PayPal. Then I got an email from PayPal saying that I REQUESTED a payment of $9.95 from them. I thought THAT'S NOT RIGHT and cancelled the request, hoping to hear from them.

I've waited 6 days and haven't received any replies. What should I do now?

 

pray...

 

I have.

 

Sorry about your dilemma Tahmoor girl. Hope it all works out. Maybe e-mail the appraiser once again and explain the situation.

 

I emailed again this morning saying I had trouble with Paypal and haven't received an email back yet. But day time here is the night before there. I thought that maybe if your request isn't proceeded by a payment then they just ignore you, without reading your email.......I'm so confused.

 

I think that perhaps this Eyers and Spottiswoode Bible is different because it has very wide margins for the notes of researchers (not '"To be read in Church"), making it different to the Eyers and Spottiswoode Bible editions on Ebay;
It has lots of handwritten notes by a person who appears to be a language expert;
and that person was seeking copyright for something at the Stationer Hall.


If it's nothing then at least my curiosity will be satisfied.

 

What do you think is an appraisal for 9,95 is worth from an internet site that appraises almost everything? A mechanic or a plumber would work 5-10 minutes for 9,95. An expert appaiser who needs a lot of expirience has an even higher hourly rate. And they usually specialice in a small topic. And from a couple of photos they will not be able to assess the state your bible is in.

 

Ok, This is the Appraiser I was using: "What is it Worth?" The Old Family Bible - AntiqueAppraise.com (antique-appraise.com)

The site says they do a lot of appraisals of family nineteenth century Bibles that aren't worth much. But I believe this one is different. It has very wide margins, wasn't made to be 'read in Church' or at home, has heaps of experts notes and was stamped at the Stationers Hall. I believe the notes may be more important than the Bible they were written on. If it is nothing they could tell me.

I think it is still possible to search for records from the mid 19th century at the Stationers Hall London, but I don't think they would allow me.

Which expert appraiser do you believe I should use?

 

NO! It looks very much like it was STAMPED over the notes. The words 'Entered at the Stationers Hall' are almost parallel with the text, (which you can tell looking at the photo here), but neither are parallel to the pages they are on, (which you probably can't tell in those closeups). I'll try taking another photo to show what I mean.
Can you find me another Eyers and Spottiswoode Bible with those words on it?

Can I use this site to search the records?:

Intellectual property: photographs, artwork, literature, music and advertising registered for copyright 1842-1924 (and 1887-1955) - The National Archives

 

I just saw 'No. 53842' written in pencil on the first page.