Book is Over 300 Years Old

April 1966

South Yorkshire Times April 16, 1966

Book is Over 300 Years Old

A book over 300 years home, another nearly 200 years old and a third over 100 years old have been unearthed by a Conisbrough man.

Mr Walter Tyas, a Yorkshire Main Colliery worker of 17, Castle Grove Terrace, Conisbrough, believes the three books, all in good condition, may be valuable.”

The oldest of the books is dated 1659 and was printed “at the little North Door of St Paul’s.” It deals with the “Practice of Christian Graces” and is entitled “Duty of Man.”

The second book, printed in 1769, is a novel, “The Cottage” by Miss Minifie the author of “Barford Abbey.”

The most recent of the books, dated 1847, may in fact be the most valuable. It is a “Miniature book of Olnay Hymns” which Mr Tyas believes may be a first edition.

“It was estimated sometime ago to be worth £50, so it may be worth even more now,” said Mr Tyas.

The books came into the possession of the family on the death in Rutland of a relative of Mr Tyas’s wife, Mrs Alice Tyas.

Mr Tyas added, “I have never had them properly valued and very few people have in fact seen them. If anyone would like to examine them, they are quite welcome. ”