Skip to Content Skip to Footer
Goshen College
  • Give
  • Get Info
  • Visit
  • Apply
    • Undergraduate Programs
    • Majors & Minors
    • Academic Catalog & Courses
    • Goshen Core
    • Global Education
    • Adult & Continuing Studies
    • Nursing (RN to BSN)
    • Business Management (BS)
    • Communication (BS)
    • Social Work (BS)
    • Transition to Interpreting
    • Transition to Teaching
    • English Learners License
    • Academic Catalog & Courses
    • Graduate Programs
    • Business Administration (MBA)
    • Environmental Education (MA)
    • Nursing (MS, FNP Track)
    • Master of Social Work (MSW)
    • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
    • Academic Catalog & Courses
    • Online Programs
    • Nursing (RN to BSN)
    • Business Management (BS)
    • Business Administration (MBA)
    • Master of Social Work (MSW)
    • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
    • English Learners License
    • Transition to Teaching
    • Transition to Interpreting
    • Undergraduate Programs
    • Costs & Financial Aid
    • Scholarships
    • Net Price Calculator
    • International Students
    • Transfer Students
    • Admitted Students
    • Committed Students
    • Adult & Continuing Studies
    • Financial Aid
    • Graduate Programs
    • Financial Aid
    • Student Life
    • Health & Safety
    • Housing
    • Dining Services
    • Clubs & Activities
    • Spiritual Life
    • Bookstore
    • About GC
    • Quick Facts
    • Offices
    • Outcomes
    • Employment
    • Who We Are
    • Mission, Vision & Values
    • Leadership & Governance
    • Faith Identity
    • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
    • Global Education
    • Sustainability
    • Institutes
    • Where We Are
    • Map & Directions
    • City of Goshen
    • Virtual Tour
    • Alumni
    • Alumni Directory
    • Transcripts
    • The Bulletin
    • Homecoming Weekend
    • Contact Us
    • Parents
    • Parents of Prospective Students
    • Parents of Current Students
    • Current Students
    • Moodle
    • Registrar's Office
    • Library
    • Job Bank
    • Accounting Office
    • Pay Bill
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Offices
    • Human Resources
    • Department Forms
    • Quick Links
    • MyGC
    • GC Online
    • Event Calendar
    • Bookstore
    • News & Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Latest News
    • GC in the News
    • Social Media Directory
    • Alumni Magazine
    • Photo Albums
    • Current Blogs
    • President's
    • Ecuador SST
    • Tanzania SST
    • Quick Links
    • Box Office
    • Music Center
    • E-Subscribe
    • Live Streams
    • Men's
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Cross Country
    • Soccer
    • Tennis
    • Track and Field
    • Volleyball
    • Women's
    • Basketball
    • Cross Country
    • Soccer
    • Softball
    • Tennis
    • Track and Field
    • Volleyball
    • Quick Links
    • GoLeafs.net
    • Live Stream
    • Online Store
    • Rec-Fitness Center
    • Intramurals
  • Map & Directions
  • Bookstore
  • Employment
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • youtube
  • linkedin
Goshen College
  • Academics
    • Undergraduate Programs
    • Majors & Minors
    • Academic Catalog & Courses
    • Goshen Core
    • Global Education
    • Adult & Continuing Studies
    • Nursing (RN to BSN)
    • Business Management (BS)
    • Communication (BS)
    • Social Work (BS)
    • Transition to Interpreting
    • Transition to Teaching
    • English Learners License
    • Academic Catalog & Courses
    • Graduate Programs
    • Business Administration (MBA)
    • Environmental Education (MA)
    • Nursing (MS, FNP Track)
    • Master of Social Work (MSW)
    • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
    • Academic Catalog & Courses
    • Online Programs
    • Nursing (RN to BSN)
    • Business Management (BS)
    • Business Administration (MBA)
    • Master of Social Work (MSW)
    • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
    • English Learners License
    • Transition to Teaching
    • Transition to Interpreting
  • Admissions & Aid
    • Undergraduate Programs
    • Costs & Financial Aid
    • Scholarships
    • Net Price Calculator
    • International Students
    • Transfer Students
    • Admitted Students
    • Committed Students
    • Adult & Continuing Studies
    • Financial Aid
    • Graduate Programs
    • Financial Aid
  • Student Life
    • Student Life
    • Health & Safety
    • Housing
    • Dining Services
    • Clubs & Activities
    • Spiritual Life
    • Bookstore
  • About
    • About GC
    • Quick Facts
    • Offices
    • Outcomes
    • Employment
    • Who We Are
    • Mission, Vision & Values
    • Leadership & Governance
    • Faith Identity
    • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
    • Global Education
    • Sustainability
    • Institutes
    • Where We Are
    • Map & Directions
    • City of Goshen
    • Virtual Tour
  • Give
  • Get Info
  • Visit
  • Apply
    • Alumni
    • Alumni Directory
    • Transcripts
    • The Bulletin
    • Homecoming Weekend
    • Contact Us
    • Parents
    • Parents of Prospective Students
    • Parents of Current Students
    • Current Students
    • Moodle
    • Registrar's Office
    • Library
    • Job Bank
    • Accounting Office
    • Pay Bill
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Offices
    • Human Resources
    • Department Forms
    • Quick Links
    • MyGC
    • GC Online
    • Event Calendar
    • Bookstore
    • News & Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Latest News
    • GC in the News
    • Social Media Directory
    • Alumni Magazine
    • Photo Albums
    • Current Blogs
    • President's
    • Ecuador SST
    • Tanzania SST
    • Quick Links
    • Box Office
    • Music Center
    • E-Subscribe
    • Live Streams
    • Men's
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Cross Country
    • Soccer
    • Tennis
    • Track and Field
    • Volleyball
    • Women's
    • Basketball
    • Cross Country
    • Soccer
    • Softball
    • Tennis
    • Track and Field
    • Volleyball
    • Quick Links
    • GoLeafs.net
    • Live Stream
    • Online Store
    • Rec-Fitness Center
    • Intramurals
GC › Mennonite Historical Library
  • Search Holdings
  • Texts and Bibliographies
  • The Hartzler Collection
  • Research Grants
  • Related Links
  • Frequently Asked Questions
Mennonite Historical Library  —  Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is my old book worth?
  • Who are the Amish?
  • Who are the Hutterites?
  • Who are the Mennonites?

What is my old book worth?

The Mennonite Historical Library frequently gets questions regarding old books and especially old Bibles. These questions fall into several categories:

  • Is anyone interested in this book?
  • How much is this book worth?
  • How can I best preserve this book?

The answers to these questions can be simple or very complex depending on the items in hand. Many factors go into determining the value of old books, including condition and rarity. Old books can remain in extremely good condition if they have been stored carefully. If a book has spent several generations in hot attics or damp basements it may be in poor condition. The value of old Mennonite books more often tends to be historical or sentimental rather than monetary.

The MHL can offer an assessment of the condition and significance of books as they relate to Anabaptist-Mennonite groups . Accurate assessments require on-site examination of the items. (Check with us in advance to make sure the proper staff members will be available. We cannot provide formal monetary appraisals. Although we are not professional conservators, we can provide some basic information on what steps may be beneficial or detrimental in preserving historical items.

The MHL continues to add both new and old items to our collection. Sometimes the tattered little booklet you have is one we need. We are happy to look at twenty books we do not need in order to find one which may be important to us. We are also glad to suggest other collections which may be able to use the items we already have represented in ours. A helpful web site answering many common questions is Your Old Books, prepared by The Rare Books and Manuscripts Section of the Association of College and Research Libraries. The late Peter VanWingen (a Mennonite) authored an earlier version of the text.

Another helpful article, What Is That Old Bible Worth?, appeared in The Bible Collector, the journal of the International Society of Bible Collectors, No. 54, April-June 1978. Written by the late Arnold Ehlert, we post it on our website with the permission of the Society’s current president, Mennonite pastor Gerald C. Studer.

Who are the Amish?

  • Amish of Northern Indiana
  • Amish Studies (Young Center, Elizabethtown College)

Who are the Hutterites?

  • Hutterian Brethren in North America

Who are the Mennonites?

  • Mennonite Church USA
  • An introduction to Mennonites
  • Mennonite World Conference
  • Mennonite Historical Library
  • Search Holdings
  • Texts and Bibliographies
  • The Hartzler Collection
  • Research Grants
  • Related Links
  • Frequently Asked Questions
Goshen College

At Goshen, our integrated approach and best-in-class programs educate the head and heart, creating globally-minded graduates who lead with courage and compassion.

  • Map & Directions
  • Bookstore
  • Employment
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • youtube
  • linkedin
1700 S Main St, Goshen, IN 46526
  • Privacy Policy
  • Login
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Website Feedback Form