The Anglican Journal asks the question “what is a Bible worth?” To the owner the worth comes from faith and association with family. On the market rarely do Bibles have the monetary value that matches the emotional value. Patti Desjardins explores the question of Bibles and their worth.
In recognition of my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary, our municipality gave them the Bible. The gift was befitting because they were known in this close-knit farming community as regular churchgoers. They were touched by the tribute and placed the Bible prominently in their home.
The Bible is a modest copy: the title on the white cover is brassy, the paper coarse, and the colour photographs pallid. Yet my parents deemed it of value because it was the means by which their community saluted their long marriage of fidelity and affection. That civic officials chose to use a religious book shows Bibles are in a category all their own.
Ironically, most Bibles hold little monetary value, yet many people assume that they are worth a lot of money. Janet Carlile, an accredited antique appraiser, regularly assesses items at fund-raising events for charitable organizations such as public libraries and local museums. Bibles come up frequently.
Her conclusion is:
For Christian faith communities, a Bible is a collection of sacred writings. The content between the covers is the source of value, not the trappings. This leads to an answer to my original question: a Bible has an incalculable worth.
Read it all here.
Or go to eBay and check out the prices antique Bibles are going for.