Sacred Pages | Rare and Historic Bibles Up for Auction

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The Bible, written over 1,500 years by approximately 40 different authors in Hebrew, Arabic, Greek and Latin, contains around 611,000 words and has been translated into over 700 languages. Despite its sacred nature, it holds the curious distinction of being the most shoplifted book in the world. From clandestine translations that once defied persecution to beautifully illuminated manuscripts, this sale offers a rare glimpse into the evolution of one of history’s most influential texts.

^{1538 Coverdale New Testament [English]: [The New Testament of oure Sauyour Jesu Christ. Faythfully translated, & lately corrected..] (£3,000-5,000)}

This collection was assembled by Brian M Hills, a devoted collector of religious history and member of the Loughton Methodist Church. Over years of searching bookshops and auction catalogues, his collection expanded to fill an entire room before being passed on. Recognising its value, our vendor’s father, Ray George, saw an opportunity to enhance the library at Mulberry House, a former rectory of High Ongar Church and home to a Christian charity. Originally intended as a theological resource, concerns over preservation and rising insurance costs ultimately led the trustees to part with the collection, ensuring its legacy endures while supporting the charity’s ongoing mission.

The Doway-Rheims Old Testament (1609-1610)

One of the standout pieces in the collection is the first edition of the Roman Catholic version of the Old Testament in English. Printed in two volumes by Laurence Kellam in Doway, this translation was undertaken by the English College of Doway under the guidance of Gregory Martin and Cardinal Allen. Although translated alongside the Rheims New Testament (1582), the Old Testament was delayed for nearly three decades due to financial constraints.

^{Bible, First Edition (£2,000-4,000)} 

This edition, listed in the renowned bibliographies of Darlow and Moule (300) and the STC (2207), features woodcut-illustrated titles, headpieces and initials. The copy to be auctioned bears the armorial bookplate of Thomas Duke of Norfolk, adding to its provenance and desirability. Despite some wear and minor losses, it remains a highly sought-after artefact, with an estimated value between £2,000-£4,000.

^{Bible, First Edition (£2,000-4,000)} 

The 1538 Coverdale New Testament

Another highlight is an early edition of Miles Coverdale’s New Testament, printed in Antwerp by Matthew Crom. Coverdale, a key figure in the history of English Bible translation, played a pivotal role in producing the first complete English Bible in 1535. This 1538 edition incorporates William Tyndale’s prologues and features over 180 woodcuts, including full-page illustrations depicting the Gospels and the Apocalypse of Saint John.

^{1538 Coverdale New Testament [English]: [The New Testament of oure Sauyour Jesu Christ. Faythfully translated, & lately corrected..] (£3,000-5,000)}

Bound in a contemporary Netherlandish brown calf binding over wooden boards, this edition is adorned with a rose and ornamental motif, along with an intricate pineapple stamp. The binding itself is dated 1546. While some pages are missing and have been replaced with facsimiles, the rarity of finding such a volume in its original binding elevates its estimated value to between £3,000-£5,000.

^{1538 Coverdale New Testament [English]: [The New Testament of oure Sauyour Jesu Christ. Faythfully translated, & lately corrected..] (£3,000-5,000)}

The 1560 Geneva Bible - ‘Breeches Bible’

Also included in the auction is the first edition of the Geneva Bible, printed by Rouland Hall in 1560. A landmark in biblical scholarship, the Geneva Bible was the first English Bible to incorporate verse divisions and be printed in Roman type. Sometimes referred to as the ‘Breeches Bible’ (due to its translation of Genesis 3:7), it was widely used by English Protestants, including the Puritans who later settled in America.

This particular copy, though missing its Old Testament title page, includes three folding maps and numerous text illustrations. Bound together with a 1636 Book of Psalms, it represents an essential piece of Reformation history. The estimated value for this rare volume is between £2,000-£4,000.

^{Geneva: Rouland Hall, 1560 Bible (£2,000-4,000)}

Other lots of note

Among the manuscript highlights, with an estimate of £2,000-3,000, is a 15th-century Gothic Latin manuscript, comprising 191 leaves of red and black lettering with 29 lines per page. The volume presents the order of the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—accompanied by minuscule Gothic marginal notes in a neat hand. Following John, the leaves are paginated in red Gothic numerals, and the volume continues with Paul’s Epistles, beginning with Romans and Corinthians. Bound in full brown morocco over oak boards, the binding features blind stamps of a convent and retains an 18th-century silver-gilt chased clasp. Once held in the library of the Duke of Sussex, this unique piece was acquired by Quaritch in 1878.

Also featured is the 1763 Baskerville Bible, a landmark in English printing and one of only 1,250 copies produced. Printed by John Baskerville in Cambridge, this first edition (third state) includes the decorative general and New Testament titles, Apocrypha, and the complete subscriber list ending with "York." Housed in contemporary full panelled leather, this example shows some wear, with cracked hinges and minor loss to the bottom margins of the last 40 leaves (not affecting text). Nevertheless, it remains a clean and handsome copy of one of the most beautifully printed English Bibles and carries an estimate of £2,000–£3,000.

^{Manuscript (£2,000-3,000)}

The sale of these extraordinary Bibles offers a rare opportunity to acquire landmark artefacts of religious and literary history. Whether sought for theological study, bibliophilic appreciation, or investment, these volumes stand as enduring tributes to the pioneering efforts to make the Scriptures accessible in English.

They embody the profound influence of the Reformation and the printing revolution, pivotal moments that transformed the dissemination of the Bible and shaped the course of history.

Thursday 17 - Sunday 27 April | Timed Online

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