Sell or Auction Your Pony Express Bible for up to Nearly $80,000 or More at Nate D. Sanders Auctions
FREE ESTIMATE. To buy, auction, sell or consign your Pony Express bible that is for sale, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).
Sell Your Pony Express Bible
The Pony Express Bible is a Protestant Bible that was distributed to the Pony Express riders by the operators of the company in 1860 and 1861. In addition, the riders were required to sign pledges related to upholding their behavior according to specified Christian principles.
Below is a recent realized price for a Pony Express Russell Majors Waddell bible. We at Nate D. Sanders Auctions can obtain up to this amount or more for you:
Pony Express Bible. Sold for nearly $80,000.
Here is an example of a Pony Express Bible:
Here are some items that our auction house, Nate D. Sanders (http://www.NateDSanders.com), has sold:
Scarce Copy of the ”Pony Express Bible” — Distributed to Riders of the Famed Old West Mail Service
Scarce copy of the Holy Bible that was specially ordered by Russell, Majors & Waddell – the company that founded the Pony Express – to give to each of the riders of their famed mail service. New York: American Bible Society, 1857. Bound in original calf leather boards, Bible is stamped in gilt on front board, ”Presented by / Russell, Majors & Waddell / 1858”, and on spine ”Holy Bible”, with elaborate decorative stamping on boards and spine. With 1,278 double-columned pages as called for. Bible is one of two types given to Pony Express riders, all of which bear the 1858 date on the front cover, and which were originally ordered by the company to give to its wagon crews, and then repurposed for the new Pony Express venture in 1860.
Alexander Majors, one of the founders of the company, was a deeply religious man who not only required each of his Pony Express riders to carry a Bible, but had it delivered to them only after they signed a pledge not to swear, drink or fight with other riders. The riders were also required to abstain from working on Sunday, an unusual practice that allowed them to rest after a grueling schedule of riding 250 miles per day on horseback. Although the Pony Express lasted a mere 19 months from April 1860 to October 1861, the lore of its riders, symbolizing the rugged individualism of the American west, has been emblazoned into the nation’s collective consciousness, with these Bibles one of the only artifacts of their noble mission.
A quote in pencil appears on the front pastedown, ”I will do what good I can as I pass along for I may not come this way again”, and a faded inscription appears on the rear pastedown possibly dating the book to 1859. This copy may have been given to one of the wagon riders, although it’s impossible to conclusively know. Bible measures 3.75” x 5.875” x 2”, well-worn with rubbing to boards and some creasing to spine. Missing first few pages including copyright page, and partial loss to last page. Overall a very good copy with original boards still present and intact. Sold for $9,375.
Apollo 13 Flown Complete Microform Bible, Serial Number 13-010, with Crew-Signed and James Lovell Signed Certificates, Originally from the Apollo Prayer League Archives of Founder Reverend John M. Stout. The complete King James Version of the Bible was miniaturized by NCR down to a single piece of microfilm just 1.5″ square. It was originally to be carried to the lunar surface in the Lunar Module Aquarius. An onboard explosion caused the abortion of the lunar landing but the craft did circle the moon, before returning to earth. This Bible was aboard that mission and included with the lot is an 8.5″ x 11″ certificate on NASA letterhead reading: “No. 13-010. This bible was flown to the moon April 11-17, 1970 on Apollo 13 spacecraft.” It is signed: “James Lovell”, “Jack Swigert”, and “Fred W, Haise”. The microform has been placed into a 10.5″ x 11.25″ custom presentation piece with gold accenting, and adorned a pearl and Brazilian garnet. The history of the Apollo Prayer League Bible is contained in two documents included with this lot. One is a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Apollo 13 Commander James Lovell accompanied by a photo of provenance showing him holding the certificate. It reads, in full: “I Certify that this Holy Bible engraved with Serial Number 13-010 Was flown to the moon by Apollo 13 Commander James Lovell on April 11, 1970, on behalf of Reverend John M. Stout, Director of the Apollo Prayer League. It was presented to the Apollo 13 crew of Commander James Lovell, Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise, and Command Module Pilot T.K. (Ken) Mattingly in 1970 by George H. W. Bush, in conjunction with Reverend John M. Stout, for the purpose of landing it on the surface of the moon on board the lunar module Aquarius. Excellent Apollo flown Bible example. Sold for $62,500.
Margaret Thatcher Estate Personally Owned Holy Bible
Holy Bible personally owned by Margaret Thatcher, the longest serving Prime Minster of the United Kingdom in the 20th century. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1971. Bible was presented to Thatcher by the Dean and Canons of Windsor, the ecclesiastical body of St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on 19 June 1995. The occasion was Thatcher’s appointment as a Lady of The Most Noble Order of the Garter, one of the highest chivalric orders of the United Kingdom. Softcover Bible has gilt lettering and Holy Cross to spine and front cover, with all edges gilt and a black satin page marker. Near fine condition. Sold for $3,414.
Very Rare Medieval Bible Manuscript Leaf — Produced in Italy Circa 1100 — Written in Carolingian Minuscule Script
Medieval Bible manuscript leaf, produced circa 1100 in Italy. Text is written in a very scarce Carolingian minuscule, a form of calligraphic script developed to standardize the Latin alphabet for the literate classes of Europe from one region to another. Text is from the “Apocalypse,” particularly from chapter 1, verse 5 to chapter 2, verse 13. Before the first quarter of the 13th century, the sections of each Book of the Bible were erratic and inconsistent from one Bible to the next, and chapters were often short and impractical. The leaf is from a Bible that was produced well before this period of standardization. Right column features scribbles from a later date, including “Apocalypse chap. I & 5-chap. II & 13” as a result of the leaf being used as a book cover, as well as a large initial “T” and the name “A. Tinard” in capitals. Leaf on 2pp., front and verso, measures 9.5″ x 12″ and has significant wear from age, including four missing corners, creases and a few laid-in slits and a few small holes in spots. The script is clear, save for a few lines with a few characters missing. Very good overall for such an historic item. Sold for $2,898.
Very Rare Medieval Bible Manuscript Leaf — Produced in Germany Circa 1150 — Large Bifolium Leaf Measures 14.5″ x 9″
Large bifolium leaf from a Bible most likely produced in Germany circa 1150-1175. The text, in Romanesque script is from the Book of Leviticus, with portions from chapter five, verse 12 to chapter 7, verse 15. The second portion of text (on verso) is from chapter 16, verse 9 to chapter 17, verse 15. Text is dated within the period 1150-1175 based on the spelling of words, as there are two p’s written together in abbreviation (which started about 1150), and the merging of the combinations of other letters, such as “bo” and “ho”, which started around 1170, not occurring on this leaf. There are a maximum of 35 lines (out of a probable 40) in a fine Romanesque script in dark brown in two columns. Card-style document on 4pp. front and verso measures approximately 14.5″ x 9″, though edges are uneven. Legibility of two pages is good; other two pages are largely illegible. Two large parts of pages 1 and 2 have been cut away and there are other cuts and chips. Overall in very good condition considering its age. Sold for $2,415.
Margaret Thatcher’s Personally Owned Holy Bible, Presented to Her as Prime Minister
Holy Bible personally owned by Margaret Thatcher, with gilt embossing bearing her name. Bible was presented to Thatcher by the Bible Pathway Ministries on 25 July 1989, during her Prime Ministership, and features gilt embossing to front cover reading ”The Right Honorable Margaret Thatcher, M.P.” Softcover Bible additionally has gilt lettering to spine, with all edges gilt. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1985. Measures 6.5” x 9.5”, in near fine condition. With Christie’s provenance. Sold for $1,750.
Consign your item at Nate D. Sanders Auctions. Send a description and images of your Pony Express Russell Majors Waddell bible to us at [email protected].
FREE ESTIMATE. To buy, auction, sell or consign your Pony Express bible that is for sale, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).