1st edition BoM on Antiques Roadshow

[MrShorty]

For anyone that might be interested, KBYU was airing an old re-run of Antique's Roadshow last night, and they had what they claimed was a 1st edition Book of Mormon brought in. It was in Dallas from the 13th season (2008/2009). It appraised for a lot more than I would have expected.

Advanced Archive Search | Antiques Roadshow | PBS

[annewandering]

I saw that show. It was interesting. I wasnt particularly surprised since a large number of people in the church are interested in the history of the church, not to mention the antis.

Then you have the 'bragging rights' group as well. :) I would love to have a copy although it is wasted on me, not being a historian.

[Vort]

1830 Book of Mormon First Printing | Roadshow Archive | PBS

[lizzy16]

I don't see the value in antique books. The words are the same (Mostly besdies a few additions/word changes) and even then the content is the same. I'd sell the book and put the money in a interest bearing account.

[annewandering]

Actually the words might be the same, with some typo differences, but the chaptering etc was not, if I remember right. It's extra value is historical. It also has sentimental value. This is a book that has been be touched and read by early members of the church. Maybe some of our own ancestors, not mine.

It would be money in your pocket if you were the one having it and sold it. Cant deny that!

[Just_A_Guy]

I think that examples from either the 1837 Kirtland or 1840 Nauvoo editions (don't remember which) are actually more valuable, monetarily speaking. The run of the 1830 edition--5,000 copies--was larger than that of some later editions.

[lizzy16]

Actually the words might be the same, with some typo differences, but the chaptering etc was not, if I remember right. It's extra value is historical. It also has sentimental value. This is a book that has been be touched and read by early members of the church. Maybe some of our own ancestors, not mine.

It would be money in your pocket if you were the one having it and sold it. Cant deny that!

They sell 'mock orginal print Book of Mormons" basically where the headings ect. and chapters aren't updated. I have one. The church book stores in Palmyra sells them. They aren't that cool...I don't get excited over them let alone the idea of the originals.

It all is too sentimental and silly to me. Touched by early members of the church? And maybe our ancestors? I don't find that very exciting.

Walking in the sacred grove where Jesus Christ and God visited Joseph Smith? That's cool

[pam]

You are still young lizzy. You tend to get a bit more sentimental and nostalgic the older you get. Well at least I have.

[skippy740]

Trying to resist the urge to comment... :)

[lizzy16]

You are still young lizzy. You tend to get a bit more sentimental and nostalgic the older you get. Well at least I have.

I'll wait 20 years and report back :)

[Vort]

They sell 'mock orginal print Book of Mormons" basically where the headings ect. and chapters aren't updated. I have one. The church book stores in Palmyra sells them. They aren't that cool...I don't get excited over them let alone the idea of the originals.

It all is too sentimental and silly to me. Touched by early members of the church? And maybe our ancestors? I don't find that very exciting.

Walking in the sacred grove where Jesus Christ and God visited Joseph Smith? That's cool

The Sacred Grove didn't do much for me. A first printing edition of the Book of Mormon would be pretty much as cool as anything I can think of.

[pam]

Trying to resist the urge to comment... :)

Such a wise decision.

[beefche]

They sell 'mock orginal print Book of Mormons" basically where the headings ect. and chapters aren't updated. I have one. The church book stores in Palmyra sells them. They aren't that cool...I don't get excited over them let alone the idea of the originals.

It all is too sentimental and silly to me. Touched by early members of the church? And maybe our ancestors? I don't find that very exciting.

Walking in the sacred grove where Jesus Christ and God visited Joseph Smith? That's cool

Lizzy, you do understand that the monetary value placed on first editions of rare books has absolutely nothing to do with sentimentality, right? I don't care if it is a Book of Mormon, The Velveteen Rabbit, or Twilight (shudder!!!). The pricing is based on it being a first edition and typically rare. It's like getting an original piece of art vs. a reproduction.

[mnn727]

I'll wait 20 years and report back :)

Some of us may not be around by then.

[Blackmarch]

I don't see the value in antique books. The words are the same (Mostly besdies a few additions/word changes) and even then the content is the same. I'd sell the book and put the money in a interest bearing account.

Yes but at least we have the original copies to compare and to be able to know the content is the same. (which is one step down from the manuscript used for the printing)

The same can't be said for the bible.

There is great value in having something so close to the original, if nothing else, for being able to check for authenticity. If the goal is to keep something the same anyways.

[pam]

Some of us may not be around by then.

I'd laugh but the reality of the situation is really not that funny.

[annewandering]

It really is hard to explain the value of items like that Book of Mormon or any other historical object to a person who just doesn't instinctively get the reason. I have a sister in law that tosses anything that hasnt been used in 30 days. You can imagine how many books she has tossed. She just simply does not understand the value of something that is not for practical use in the here and now. And I mean right now. How do you explain it to them? I dont think you can. You either know or you dont.

[lizzy16]

Lizzy, you do understand that the monetary value placed on first editions of rare books has absolutely nothing to do with sentimentality, right? I don't care if it is a Book of Mormon, The Velveteen Rabbit, or Twilight (shudder!!!). The pricing is based on it being a first edition and typically rare. It's like getting an original piece of art vs. a reproduction.

I get that yes. I don't see an original copy of the BOM being a piece of art. Or any original book really.

Books are to be read and appreciated. Often time antique and rare books are kept on shelves and people read the newest, more recent, mass produced copy. The words are what matters and the content. Not the ink blotches, bent pages, hand stitching or hand made leather.

[annewandering]

I get that yes. I don't see an original copy of the BOM being a piece of art. Or any original book really.

Books are to be read and appreciated. Often time antique and rare books are kept on shelves and people read the newest, more recent, mass produced copy. The words are what matters and the content. Not the ink blotches, bent pages, hand stitching or hand made leather.

To you. Fortunately you are only one 'camp' and there are others who care about the artifacts of our history.

Yes the contents do matter. If they didn't, the rest wouldnt matter either, generally.

[pam]

If I had the opportunity to touch a Book of Mormon that had been carried by a member of the Martin Handcart company..it would seriously send shivers down my back. That would be just so so so amazing.

That's just one example.

Edited March 28, 2012 by pam

[beefche]

I got to touch Legolas's woodland tunic at a Lord of the Rings exhibit. Knowing that Orlando Bloom had worn that made me swoon.

But, then I woke up and saw how small that costume was. Good grief! Legolas needs to eat a sandwich or two!

[JudoMinja]

Maybe it is because of being young, but I'm with lizzy. I can understand the value of an antique book if say... it's one of the only copies of that book still available. I can also understand adding value based on the fact that it was hand-bound, real leather, etc. But I don't really get all that sentimental about objects.

I have my weak points of course, but those tend to be with things that I can specifically relate to, like- for example- an old favorite toy. I'd be able to look at or hold that toy and remember all the fun times I had with it, might be able to identify how it got bent up and scraped and marred, and it is fun taking a trip down memory lane. Those items have more value to me than something to which I can ascribe no memories.

I understand that historical artifacts are valued based on this same concept, but I don't see how it's important to an individual if the memories don't specifically apply to them. If it was your great-great grandfather's copy and you have stories about when he first read it or pages that he marked that were of interest to him... sure. But an original copy that holds no value to you specifically other than that it is original? *shrug*

Maybe I'll be back here in another 20 years sharing with lizzy how much more important and sentimental these things have become and laughing at how we didn't understand when we were younger.

[Dravin]

It's not an age only thing. I'm 28 and I get a charge out of say touching a building that has existed longer than my country. But then I'm a geologist at heart and part of that is an appreciation of where something has been not just where it is now.

[Gargantuan]

FYI: My family had a First Ed of the B of M for years that had been valued to be over a quarter of million dollars in 1990. I was told that it was the book my great uncle, Orson Pratt, had used to divide the Book of Mormon up into chapters and verses. My grandmother, his niece, authenticated her uncle Orson's handwriting. I think the book has finally made it to the Church museum.

We also had an original oil portrait of John Taylor, the prophet that my mother had repaired after one her children threw a hammer at it and tore a small hole in the canvass. She also repaired the golden picture frame by making a plaster cast of the undamaged portion of it by making a new piece of the frame from that casting. I believe that portrait hangs in the Church museum now.

At first, any particular antique item may not hold a value for you until you can learn to see it that way. Then, it becomes valuable to you. For instance, my aunt bought a huge antique unaesthetic bronze statue because she liked how it would look in her home. I didn't care for it as much as she did because it looked like it was old. Before she passed away, she gave it to me, and now, after some time has gone by, I can understand why she liked it. I have grown to appreciate it's beauty in my home. Maybe, I'm getting older and wiser.

Edited March 28, 2012 by Gargantuan
grammar

[volgadon]

It's not an age only thing. I'm 28 and I get a charge out of say touching a building that has existed longer than my country. But then I'm a geologist at heart and part of that is an appreciation of where something has been not just where it is now.

I'm not a geologist, but I am 28 too. I feel the same way about the past. There is such a thrill to it.