The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-11-02
OLD AND RARE BIBLES.
The Prices They Bring i'm America and
Enr0pe-The Most Valuable Bible i'm
the FWnrI;;g

The sale of old and rare Bibles forms
an important branch of the secondhand
book trade in New York. Bibles of an
early date, or of which small editions
only have been published, are eagerly
sought after, and for good copies high
prices are occasionally paid. The de-
mand. of course, fiuctuates from time te
iimes but certain books meet at all times
with ready sale, and American houses
md the trade lucrative enough to en-
ploy European agents and to send BUYERS
TO Europe at certain periods for the spe-
cal purpose of searching out old and
curious Bibles. The majority of the
Bibles which appear in the market
through American channels are of little
value. The uninitiated are likely to at
tach great value to mere age; whereas
unless an old book possesses peculiarities
Of text oris bibliographical rarity it is
almost worthless. t5rt-
From information gathered bya Wor1d
reporter on the subject it appears that
the Bibles most in demand are the .Vin-
esar," "Breeches,a presbyterian, :"
and Douai versions OF the first named
there are probably twenty copies in
America. The version takes its name
from the substitution of the word "vin-
egar' for vineyard in the twentieth
chapter of Matthew 1t was pub
llshed in two volumes by Bassett, of
London, in 1717, and there are perhaps
lnlndred copies extant.A It is embel-
ilshed with a frontispiece and vignettes
by Won der Gricht. A fine copy has
been sold in England for as much as
twenty guineas. though fair one could
be bought here for seventy-five dollars.
Two impressions were taken on vellum,
one OF which is in the British Museum
and the other in the Bodleian Library at
oXford. The ''Breeches" Bible is so
eaAed from the use of the word 'sbreech-
es' IN place of aprons" in Genesis iii,
!. The Breeehes Bible was printed in
i960 at Geneva by Rouland Hall, and
went tfrotigh fifty editions within thirty
Years, 1t is common in America, but
perfect specimens are hard toget Copies
nave been sold in New York at from ten
10 10. twenty dollars. The PRESBYTERIAN
blpe is found in, the American market
nom time to time. 1t is King James
version, and was published by Buck &
panlel OF Cambridge, in 1858. The SUBJ
sIHaatlen OF the word .'ye'' for ''we'' in
actsvi, ), materially alters the import
u the text. The error was, without
ioundation, imputed to the Presbyte-
mans, hence the name of the book. Cop
Ss les may be bought for thirty dollars each.
the number extant is unknown. Cop
les OF the version printed by John Cos
euner at Douai in 1885, are numerous,
and are sold at low prices. .FF
ihere are innumerable other versions
! VI the Bible which attract purchasers on
account OF their containing typograph-
zeal or other errors. During the Com
hohWeaith in England the press was
apoilie OF Bibles, which were not re-
aafkabie for accuracy of text. DR.. Cot
tne famous bibliophile, stigmatized |
aale , Bibles of the Protectorate as ssfilled |
asl,h VIII egregious blasphemies and damn
psg a9ie errata. 1t is well known that a |
aaes D,oLe fsormed part of the equipment of
s saeh OF Cromwell's Ironsides. 1.-The |
/ IIolaier 5 Poeket-Book," published in
tLonoon in 1913, and reprinted at Cam
-''T't LII IoOts LIDS OI ltlt iltIc
p'se The Characteristic sentence: Trust
r. co .ae Lord and keep the powder dry"
sfies m the reprint are valued at "a to
W. VI the originals two only are said
pe IN existence. One of them is at
as british Museum and the other formed
Ea,l Oh the collection of the late Mr..
aleorge Livermore. Mr.. Sotheran, the
luton publisher, reproduced in 1862
Nv soldiers Pocket-Book" in fac SIM
@ FIVE copies were printed on vellum,
o OF which was sold at the Men
= n sale in New York for S17.
ane tfst Bible printed in foreign
1suage in America was the German
As,sion A,s issued at Germantown, Pa, in
ma, mo- 1t is becoming rather valuable, a
NY having been sold at the Brindley
S, ~ IN April of last year for $3.50. The
alae Is thick, clumsy quarto. The
a. s1se i. Indian Bible, printed in one of
aaiects of the North American In
alls, aus Is q great curiosity. 1t was pub
,ea at Cambridge, Mass. in 1868, by
uel Green and Marmaduke John
s u Is believed that no person living