Probably The Lion, The Witch & the Wardrobe. I got my copy in 1968 . All my childhood books are still at my Mum’s house but I’ve got my Chronicles of Narnia books here
1942 Inner Sanctum translation of War and Peace. I used to have a 1937 Zoro paperback, but I was worried it wouldn’t survive too many moves, so I passed it on to a good home.
I don’t have it on me, but I have a biography of Ben Franklin that was published in 1891. I own a lot of old books and I think that’s the oldest, but I have a vague memory of owning one from the mid 1860s.
Antique book of Longfellow poems. It does not have a publishing date and I’ve googled it and never found another copy like it. If anyone has info on it, I’d be appreciative!
Thanks! It’s a wonderful book, I’ve read it so much and now I’m scared to even open it because it’s falling apart. I’ve searched and searched and there is no other copy that looks exactly like this. It’s frustrating not to know when it was published or why it’s the only one of its kind. But I love it. <3
It was my dad’s, and his father’s and grandfather’s. I found some info out today, it’s a reprint and not worth anything monetarily, but the cover is its own original design, plus it has writing inside that showed a great grandpa of mine gifted it to his wife. I may buy some book binding glue to keep it together for another generation or so.
I have one more… a banned book. The one written by Nathu Ram Godse after he assassinated Mahatma Gandhi. It was banned immediately… 1949… my grandfather gifted his copy to me. It is in urdu
I have collected a few old books from libraries I worked in over 30 years ago. They are all in a box, and I know some of them are from about 1900-1930’s.
Both unread- Women of the Valois Court by Imbert De Saint-Amand published in 1893 & Jonathan and his continent by Max O’Rell and Jack Allyn published in 1889.
Three Sisters (a book about Raden Ajeng Kartini) I got from a second hand bookshop. The previous owner wrote ‘Saturday 13th of April 1983’ o8n the cover.
This was a gift to my older sister from my father in 1945. She gave it to me to read some years ago but I still haven’t. She has since passed away, so it has stayed with me. This was also my mother’s favorite book.
1912 I think. A few pages in it says: Entered under Australian Commonwealth Copyright Act, 1912 Is that when this book was printed? There is no other dates mentioned. It’s falling apart as if it’s that old. It was a very interesting read! They suggested an enema for even the slightest sniffle lol. I don’t know if this is my oldest book, I have a bit of a collection of them.
My Bible I got when I was a child.
I have some old zoo and circus books from the 50’s and 60’s
I have a few books from the late 1800s to early 1900s. Haven’t read them though.
I have this one, Modern Ladies by John Paulsen from 1915. I only bought it because of the nice cover illustration
If you bought it for the cover (which is certainly nice) have you read it?
Not yet. But it’s on my to read list. With all the other books i keep buying
A book I have on Mythology. Can’t remember the author but it’s like the standard. Everyone has seen this book and I have two copies of it. Lol
Bullfinch’s Mythology?
I believe Edith Hamilton is the author and it’s predominantly about Greek Mythology.
Oh yes. That is Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes. I have a copy (used to have three, but then…why?)
First edition of the poems of Geoffrey Studdart Kennedy, a priest who served as a chaplain in WWI. His poetry is amazing.
Alice and Phoebe Cary’s poems – 1882, so exactly 100 years older than me 🙂
A first edition of the first Swedish translation of Wuthering Heights! Or my grandmother’s cathechism.
Probably The Lion, The Witch & the Wardrobe. I got my copy in 1968 . All my childhood books are still at my Mum’s house but I’ve got my Chronicles of Narnia books here
The hobbit cant remeber when it was released
1942 Inner Sanctum translation of War and Peace.
I used to have a 1937 Zoro paperback, but I was worried it wouldn’t survive too many moves, so I passed it on to a good home.
Eugenie de grandet of honore de balzac
A children’s book that belonged to my Grandmother.
D’Holbach’s System of Nature, published in 1770. It’s a philosophical argument for materialism.
Must be Hide away Dean Koontz
Here’s to you Rachel Robinson by Judy Blume. My step dad got it for me when I was 11 or 12 and I still have it.
Gold Comes In Bricks-A.A. Fair (pen name of Earle Stanley Gardner)
Muntiny on the Bounty or Little Women I’m not sure.
My well read childhood copy of The Secret Garden! 🙂
Die unendliche Geschichte (The Never Ending Story) by the deceased German author Michael Ende. Read it myself several times and also to my children ?
My 1998 first US edition of Harry Potter and the sorcerers stone
Papillon by Henri Charriere 1971
1945-1961
I don’t have it on me, but I have a biography of Ben Franklin that was published in 1891. I own a lot of old books and I think that’s the oldest, but I have a vague memory of owning one from the mid 1860s.
The Rig Veda.
The Hobbit
A Perry mason book from 1963 it a first printing
Medics field guide second edition 1938 was my grandfather’s from WWII, my mister prized possession. I’m a nurse so it holds a lot of meaning for me.
Case no 26… headless horse by Alfred Hitchcock..
Antique book of Longfellow poems. It does not have a publishing date and I’ve googled it and never found another copy like it. If anyone has info on it, I’d be appreciative!
That is so cool☺
Thanks! It’s a wonderful book, I’ve read it so much and now I’m scared to even open it because it’s falling apart. I’ve searched and searched and there is no other copy that looks exactly like this. It’s frustrating not to know when it was published or why it’s the only one of its kind. But I love it. <3
ooooh neat. I’d venture a guess of turn of the century, maybe 1870-1910, very victorian design
Apparently you aren’t the only one that thought it was a wonderful book, it looks like it’s been very loved for a long time.
It was my dad’s, and his father’s and grandfather’s. I found some info out today, it’s a reprint and not worth anything monetarily, but the cover is its own original design, plus it has writing inside that showed a great grandpa of mine gifted it to his wife. I may buy some book binding glue to keep it together for another generation or so.
I have one more… a banned book. The one written by Nathu Ram Godse after he assassinated Mahatma Gandhi. It was banned immediately… 1949… my grandfather gifted his copy to me. It is in urdu
Wow this is cool
You mean WHEN it was written, or the ACTUAL book/copy/edition?
The actual one
“My naughty little sister” from my childhood in the 1970s x
These are the oldest stories I own
A 1945 copy of Little Women, unread.
Mint condition? =)
Oooh I collect Louisa May Alcott specifically lol. Jealous
This is 1917 and was given to me in this condition. It’s the sandman tales
Any good?
Can’t really read it unfortunately
@Shawntay Darn. Looks good though.
This is 1959
I don’t really have any older books ? I have Jane eyre but it’s a newer copy published in 2011
It’s not a competition. =) I worry about my older books because I move so much, so there’s an advantage to having younger, tighter bound books.
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Cameo edition. Copyright 1904
The oldest regarding the printing year (like how old it is), or the first one that I’ve got (and still keep with me)?
Crime and Punishment 1985, Raduga Publications, Moscow.
Chronicles of vladimir tod eighth grade bites
This one is from 82. Not very old…
the complet
the compleat works of sherlock holms . 1943
A book of Tennyson poetry, just over a hundred years old.
I have collected a few old books from libraries I worked in over 30 years ago. They are all in a box, and I know some of them are from about 1900-1930’s.
An 1840+ collected works of Friedrich Schiller. Wrapped in silk paper for safekeeping.
The illustrated copy of Alice In Wonderland that my dad got me when I was a kid.
1920’s math book
FableHaven series
Twilight Series ?
1930’s Allen Quartermain and king Salomans mines
Kite runner
Both unread- Women of the Valois Court by Imbert De Saint-Amand published in 1893 & Jonathan and his continent by Max O’Rell and Jack Allyn published in 1889.
the Godfather.
Noddy Goes To School ! Can’t part with it.
I have the complete set of Charles Dickens, printed before copyright started…
22 individual books. 🙂
So before 1923.
Bible and To Kill a Mocking Bird
The first book I read as a child, Blitz the story of a horse, it’s been on my shelve for over 50 years.
Not sure, I have a pretty big collection. I do have a few Zane Grey books with cigarette advertisements still in them though.
Bible
very old edition of flower fairies book..
Very old book about the origin of the English nursery rhymes.
An Urdu dictionary…….
Bought by my grandfather in 1906
Agatha Christie collection
1866
Dune or Little Men
1935
Was just remided by my motber that this is actually my oldest book
Stephen king’s It
To kill a mockingbird…my favorite book!
Mine too
Mine too
In Cold Blood. I got it when it was first published and still have it
Three Sisters (a book about Raden Ajeng Kartini) I got from a second hand bookshop. The previous owner wrote ‘Saturday 13th of April 1983’ o8n the cover.
The year i was born 😀
? and four years before I was born
I have a bible from the 1840s.
LotR my grandfather bought the first editions
This was a gift to my older sister from my father in 1945. She gave it to me to read some years ago but I still haven’t. She has since passed away, so it has stayed with me. This was also my mother’s favorite book.
This is the front cover of my sister’s 1945 copy of Little Women, next to an old copy of The Moonstone.
Love! Have a collection of vintage/ antique Louisa May Alcott books myself
Wow! How nice. I remember reading her Rose in Bloom in high school. I loved it.
Oh been forever since I’ve read that one. I have so I’ll need to reread
So beautiful! One of my favorite classics too ❤❤❤
Gosh, I loved the Moonstone!
My Bible for date wise. A book I’ve owned the longest even though it’s not on my shelf I still own it, but Warrior Cats: Fire and Ice.
Found this in a box of books at a yard sale
I also own a classic copy of the Odyssey.
Stephen King’s Delores Claiborne
1912 I think. A few pages in it says: Entered under Australian Commonwealth Copyright Act, 1912
Is that when this book was printed? There is no other dates mentioned. It’s falling apart as if it’s that old. It was a very interesting read! They suggested an enema for even the slightest sniffle lol. I don’t know if this is my oldest book, I have a bit of a collection of them.
Omg these are FANTASTIC reads… I have one on Eugenics that’s just crazy.
Wow! That would be a fascinating read! Old books are entertaining.
These things gave poor Mark Twain nightmares! XD Congrats on finding one!
Is he a character from a book?
@Storm Mark Twain was the pen name of an American author. He frequently mentions -with horror- women using home remedy books.
This is my oldest book, I have had it since I was 14 and I’m 43 now ~ so it’s 29 years old x
longest day , cornelius ryan
Webster’s dictionary
Probably To Kill a Mocking bird idk
A Dutch children’s book
Aesop’s fables
Dated 1868
1933 Pride and Prejudice
I have some of my Great Uncle’s books from the 1920/30s & my Gran’s 1917 bible plus all my Great Granny’s children books from the 1880s
1918 Harmsworth Universal Encyclopedias. They make fascinating 21st Century reading
Ben Hur
Good question, no idea, I need to check it out
Same here!
I have my grandfather’s 1910-1911 Encyclopedia Britannica. It’s complete but not in good condition.
An old book on accounting from the 1910’s that my grandpa owned.