A rare copy of the Bible has sold for £20,000 at auction in Belfast.

The Geneva Bible, which is believed to date back to 1615, attracted a lot of interest, auctioneer Karl Bennet said at the sale in the east of the city.

Bidding at Bloomfield Auctions started at £6,000 before swiftly reaching five figures and finishing with the winning bid of £20,000 on Tuesday afternoon.

This was almost twice what it had been expected to sell for.

The book is thought to have travelled from Devon with its former owner Elizabeth Pole in 1633 to what is now Massachusetts in the US, on the Speedwell pilgrim boat.

The Geneva Bible has been described as one of the most historically significant translations of the Bible.

It was the first mechanically printed, mass-produced Bible available to the public and pre-dates the King James Bible by 50 years.

Copies of it were carried by the Pilgrims on the Mayflower to the New World.

The edition sold by Bloomfield Auctions was owned by Ms Pole, who travelled with her brother on the Speedwell to the Plymouth Colony in 1633 and founded the town of Taunton, Massachusetts.

She is believed to have been the first woman to establish a town in North America.

It remained in the possession of the Pole-Carew family until the mid-20th century when it was sold to a collector from Northern Ireland.

The Bible was sold as part of a private collection.

editor

Recent Posts

Spirits set to soar at popular Stratford Gin & Rum Festival!

Take note of this exciting news! The much-awaited "Stratford Gin & Rum Festival" is back,…

2 months ago

Shakespeare Distillery launches their first Cask Aged Rum

Shakespeare Distillery, a carbon-neutral spirit producer, has recently launched an exclusive limited edition aged rum…

2 months ago

Cars from the Ford of Britain Heritage Collection join displays at the British Motor Museum!

Starting from 2 February, the British Motor Museum will be showcasing a selection of seven…

2 months ago

New boutique Hotel Indigo Coventry opens

The Hotel Indigo Coventry has recently opened its doors to the public after a multi-million-pound…

2 months ago

12,000 cancer patients waiting more than three months for treatment

The HSJ said that while the number of patients waiting two months for cancer care…

1 year ago