500-year-old book surfaces in Utah

AP-Yahoo! ^ | Apr 25, 2011 | BRIAN SKOLOFF

[greatdefender]

SALT LAKE CITY – Book dealer Ken Sanders has seen a lot of nothing in his decades appraising "rare" finds pulled from attics and basements, storage sheds and closets.

Sanders, who occasionally appraises items for PBS's Antiques Roadshow, often employs the "fine art of letting people down gently."

But on a recent Saturday while volunteering at a fundraiser for the small town museum in Sandy, Utah, just south of Salt Lake, Sanders got the surprise of a lifetime.

"Late in the afternoon, a man sat down and started unwrapping a book from a big plastic sack, informing me he had a really, really old book and he thought it might be worth some money," he said. "I kinda start, oh boy, I've heard this before."

Then he produced a tattered, partial copy of the 500-year-old Nuremberg Chronicle.

The German language edition printed by Anton Koberger and published in 1493 is a world history beginning in biblical times. It's considered one of the earliest and most lavishly illustrated books of the 15th century.

[Woodman]

I have a couple of Bibles older than that. Since they’re my family’s, I wouldn’t even think to get them appraised.

[Woodman]

Older than 1890’s, not 500 years.

[I Drive Too Fast]

Bottom picture = Santa in the off season?

I read a funny comment on this article where someone said they had a globe so old it was flat.

[King Moonracer]

LOL! But it was missing the magic hat and rock accessories.

[WVNan]

I think the oldest book I have is a copy of “Journals of the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church” Vol I, 1796 - 1836 (published by Carlton & Phillips, 1855. It’s in pretty good shape for its age.

[seowulf]

I collect books. My oldest book is a text book. It's signed and dated by the previous owner, Feb. 11, 1890.

I collect a few as well, some going back to the early 19th century.

I think my most interesting book to me is a 1918 lab book of qualitative chemical analysis with hand written notes in the margin by the young chemist taking lab. I picked it up in a local used book shop a few years ago for $3.

Most interesting to me I suppose since I am a chemist and realizing that in 1918 there were essentially no analytical laboratory instruments you see today. The most they had were polarized light microscopes.

[Shimmer1]

I was wondering which you meant!

[SunkenCiv]

· GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach · · join list or digest · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post a topic · subscribe ·
	Antiquity Journal  & archive  Archaeologica  Archaeology  Archaeology Channel  BAR  Bronze Age Forum  Discover  Dogpile  Eurekalert  Google  LiveScience  Mirabilis.ca  Nat Geographic  PhysOrg  Science Daily  Science News  Texas AM  Yahoo  Excerpt, or Link only?	Thanks greatdefender. Nuremberg Chronicle Yeah, I had four of those, in protective plastic bags, but my mom threw them out after I went to college. At this point, you don't really *need* me to say /oldjokealert, right? To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.
· History topic · history keyword · archaeology keyword · paleontology keyword · · Science topic · science keyword · Books/Literature topic · pages keyword ·

[bannie]

D A M N. I’m erupting with envy. (It’s ugly: Don’t look.)

[bannie]

I have a two-volume set of an 1872 Webster’s Dictionary. Paid 99cents for each. This is my best book treasure.

[Woodman]

My family are great junk collectors. My father also has a couple of primers from the 1800’s that were his grand father's. Those schoolbook are interesting compared to today's.

[Holen1]

Now this looks like a good thread for me to brag about my little gem.

I have a 1st edition of Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, by Gen. Lew Wallace. Printed in 1880.

Now, there is a personalized inscription, unsigned, but dated Nov. 2 ‘86. What makes it more interesting is I have seen an autographed copy on line, dated Nov. ‘86. Wallace’s Nov. ‘86 and mine are “identical.” So I believe I have a copy which Wallace gave to a friend. Pretty cool.

[djf]

I have a “Translation of the Syriac Testament” by Js. Murdock, 1851
It is a translation of one of the earliest remaining Aramaic copies of the New Testament.

I also have a How to learn Greek for Dummies textbook from 1846.

The barns back on the east coast are loaded with all kinds of stuff...

[Little Bill]

Don't be to sure. There were a lot of Mormon converts from the 1850’s and after from Germany. Except for the push cart era I think that they might have taken what they valued most.

[Little Bill]

Next time you recommend “1491”, which is a good read, remind readers that he is a greenie.

[SunkenCiv]

I may have a copy of “1491”, but have never recommended it. :’)

[Little Bill]

Sorry.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Is that guy the original owner? ;^)

[Hot Tabasco]

I still have my old geometry book from 7th grade I think. It’s brand new, never even opened........