America 250 Semiquincentennial Bible Celebration

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Today on Celebrate the Bible:

Collecting bible pages is a rewarding hobby.

With this broadcast, I am going to attempt to give a list of the top ten collectible Bible pages … according to Scripture.

Before I begin, however, it is wise to understand something important: Your heart should not be with your collection. Your heart should always remain with Jesus Christ.

When I first began to collect the history of the Holy Bible, I quickly realized that many Bibles were too expensive for me. They were far beyond my ability to afford them.

I discovered that many collectors turn to individual Bible pages, instead of entire Bibles.

A person who sees a Bible in a museum exhibit only sees the page that the Bible is open to. They can’t view the other pages.

Since MY goal was to exhibit pages from famous Bibles, as opposed to collecting specific scripture, single leaves made more sense to me than entire Bibles.

And that was the start my Celebrate the Bible collection, many, many, years ago.

The Top Ten List

I have had the following list for many years. I wish I could give credit where credit is due, but I cannot remember where I obtained the list! The paper is old, and it is in my handwriting.

The pages in this list are usually more expensive than other pages, due to the fact that each Bible contains only one page of the selection. For instance, a Bible contains only one John 3:16 page, or Genesis 1:1 page.

Of course, a Bible contains only one page of EVERY page if you want to look at it that way … but, still, in the world of collectors, some pages are more sought after than others.

Keep in mind that this top ten list is not about entire bibles. This is about specific Bible scripture chapter and verses that are most requested by collectors.

Lets move on to the Top Ten List:

#10: Philippians Chapter 4

I will read a few selections from Philippians chapter 4:

Verses 6-7 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

#9. 1 Corinthians Chapter 13

Also known as the “Love Chapter”

Verses 11-13: “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

#8. Romans 8:28

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

#7. John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

#6. The Lord’s Prayer

Matthew 6:9-13

Luke 11:2-4

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”

#5. The Ten Commandments

The text of the Ten Commandments appears twice in the Old Testament: at Exodus 20:2–17, and Deuteronomy 5:6–17

As you may have guessed, the Ten Commandments are a very popular collectible. They can be found in all forms of representation: from clay tablets, to Torah scrolls, to micro and nano technologies.

#4. Isaiah 53

Back to a chapter, rather than a single verse.

Christians of all denominations hold that Isaiah 53 is a messianic prophecy of Jesus. It is traditionally held within Jewish commentaries to be representative of the nation of Israel. It has been recorded as having been debated back and forth about that issue, going back to 248 AD.

#3. Proverbs 31

Once again back to a chapter, rather than a single verse.

#2. Psalm 23

I hit gold recently when I purchased a tattered and torn Bible that was the first Bible printed by a woman. It is known as the Thomson Bible. Charles Thomson was the former secretary of Congress during the founding of America. After he retired from Congress, he spent twenty years translating the Greek Septuigent into English — and his Bible was the first as such. It was printed by Miss Jane Aitken of Philadelphia. It was published in four volumes, and the volume that I was able to obtain contained the 23rd Psalm. Of which I matted and framed. Out of all of the 23rd Psalm collectibles “out there”: from Bible pages to teacups, it has to be one of the rarest collectibles to have this 23rd Psalm by the first woman in America to print a Holy Bible.

#1 most asked for Bible pages for collectors is:

#1. Genesis 1:1

“In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth”.

Notice that, except for Genesis 1:1, none of the pages listed above are title pages. With that being said, ANY title page is considered more in demand than any other page.

So, until we meet again, and for celebratethebible250, this is Francis Douglas.

If you would like me to give a presentation, and also provide a tabletop exhibit, at your church, school, gallery, or organization, let me know.

The topic I cover is the History of the Christian Holy Bible in America.

Not only will your group learn about it, but you’ll also see — on display — pages from the rarest Bibles in the world.

I’ll place contact information below as the 2026 Semiquincentennial America 250 year approaches.

I will be available for Southern New Jersey, Southeastern Pennsylvania, and Northern Delaware.

CONTACT (for presentations only):

Available for Southern New Jersey, Southeastern Pennsylvania, and Northern Delaware.