The World of Rare Books: The Gutenberg Bible, First and Most Valuable

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed)
Jan 31st 2008 at 2:06PM

There are countless rare books in the world, but by most expert's standards the rarest of them all is the Gutenberg Bible. It was the first book ever printed back in 1456, and although several hundred copies were originally printed finding a complete first edition would net you $25-$35 million. In today's market single pages alone go for $25,000 each, and several years ago just 1 volume (it's a 2 volume set) sold for $5.5 million.

Besides the Gutenberg Bible other rare books include the first edition of Shakespeare's collected works from 1623 (worth $6 million), a collection of Leonardo da Vinci's manuscripts (potentially worth as much as $100 million), and of course any first edition copy of the Declaration of Independence (worth $8 million). Edgar Allen Poe's work also makes in onto the "rarest books" list with his first published poem ("Tamerlane") being rare and difficult to find due to a byline of simply "By A Bostonian." It's worth as much as $200,000 to the right buyer.

Tags: Bible, book, books, Declaration of Independence, DeclarationOfIndependence, Edgar Allen Poe, EdgarAllenPoe, first edition, FirstEdition, Gutenberg, rare, rarest, Shakespeare, the rare, TheRare

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

John C. Randolph Feb 1st 2008 6:49AM

Correction: it was the first book printed in Europe. The Chinese and Koreans were using moveable type several centuries earlier.

-jcr

Werner Saemmler-Hindrichs Feb 3rd 2008 10:43PM

Dear John! Are you the John C. Randolph who is a rare book dealer? If so, we have to pursue this issue. I dispute that the ceramic and wooden types used by Bi Sheng are even in the same paradigm as Gutenberg, who should be more properly credited with achieving an entire system of type-founding, something the Chines, nor the Uihgurs, nor the Koreans ever did. Those systems did predate, but they were laborious, and much like the hominids in the Rift Valley, largely evolutionary dead-ends. The jeweler type-founders of Mainz (my bet is on Fust!) created a system which is the logical antecedent of what we do today. The Koreans could have, since Hangyul only has 24 characters, but the idea of Chinese wooden type (or the ceramic nonsense) being moveable and reuseable is just that. Trash a type slug, and get a new one. Trash a wooden slug, and carve a new one. It'so wonder that mass printing didn't catch on in China until tey adopted the Western paradigm.

Cheers,

Werner Saemmler-Hindrichs
Antiquariat Hindrichs
Middleburg VA

Jimmy Feb 3rd 2008 3:27PM

I have a journal from Theodore L. Mead dated 1871. It is original and tells of his travels and has some exotic leaves and many mentions of his butterfly searches. Any help in finding the value would be greatly appreciated. It is signed and dates from Jan. 1 1871 thru Dec.31 1871.

Jimmy Feb 3rd 2008 3:53PM

Journal by Theodore L. Mead. Dated Jan.1 1871 thru Dec.31 1871. Looking for help to find it's value. Original signature and pressed leaves from his travels in search of butterflies. Thanks.

Tubz Feb 4th 2008 11:07PM

I HAVE A LATE 1800'S SHAKESPEAR BOOK, IS ANY ONE INTERESTED . HAS ALL THE PAGES N PLAYS..PAGUILAR1138@AOL.COM

J Feb 7th 2008 12:07PM

Wonder what a teacher's book on the "Titanic" from last century value would be? Any info appreciated!

Richard Anderason Feb 13th 2008 4:13AM

I have two books by Charles Dickens with his portrait and signiture. One book is called "The life & Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby".The other book is called "Dombey and Son".
Both books are very old. The bonded cover of one of the books is in bad shape.
Both books have many illistrations in them.

Richard Anderason Feb 10th 2008 10:11AM

I have a book by William Shakespeare titled "The complete dramatic and poetical works of William Shakespeare" with a summary outline of "THE LIFE OF THE POET". DATED 1882.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S PICTURE AND SIGNITURE IS ON ONE OF THE PAGES.The book has 895 pages WITH AN INDEX IN THE BACK. It is very old.

Lillian Zoucha Feb 11th 2008 12:55PM

HOGHTON TOWER BY FRANK SINGLETON COST one shilling sixpense any one interested I have in good condition

michaelnehigh Feb 11th 2008 12:39PM

I have the Cat in the Hat!

GS Apr 27th 2008 9:11PM

dito... who needs old books anyway

Robert Swisher Feb 13th 2008 5:44PM

I have a book called little snowdrop written on cloth.its Father Tucks "play&pleasure" series. I believe this inspired the Walt Disney snow white and the seven dwarfs series.It is no 1508 designed at the studios in England. published by Raphael Tuck&Sons Co LTD

bbobnflash Feb 12th 2008 12:51PM

I also have a five paged RIP VAN Winkle book called the Robin Hood Series copyrighted 1889 by Mcloughlin bros New York.If interested in either book please e-mail inqures.

Linda Feb 17th 2008 12:50AM

I have a very old copy of Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray and The Taming Of The Shrew printed by Ballantyne, Hanson and Co in Edinburgh and London. Very Old and The Seven Seas by Rudyard Kipling, copyright 1896. Also Uncle Toms Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Not dated but very old. Another copy of Vanity Fair with cloth cover. Any information on these greatly appreciated. Reply to my email address. Thank you

Linda Feb 17th 2008 1:29AM

Have 2 books of Vanity Fair,Unle Toms Cabin and Taming of the Shrew and The Seven Seas by Rudyard Kipling 1896. All very old. Any information or interest. email me

LISA Mar 4th 2008 12:25PM

I have 2Rare Books, Barbar The Elephant Adventures, and an Original copy of Gone With The Wind..1890's..

Dan Mar 29th 2008 4:20PM

I have a signed complete set of Rudyard Kiplings "the seven seas edition. Number 892 of 1050. Does anyone have a clue of the value? Also, Sir Walter Scott's Kenilworth, the Tailsman and Ivenhoe. Contact me if you have a clue about these books.

Thanks