Rare Book Collections

LSTC

The L. Franklin Gruber Collection, acquired by the president of the former Chicago Lutheran Theological Seminary, contains sixteen manuscript codices from the ninth through the fourteenth centuries and includes an entire New Testament, individual gospels, and gospel lectionaries. The manuscripts are listed in Kurt Aland's Kurzgefasste Liste der griechischen Handscriften des Neuen Testaments (Berlin, 1963) as "Maywood/Ill., Theol. Sem." The Gruber Collection also has several original editions of Luther's German Bible and many sixteenth century treatises and pamphlets. More information about the L. Franklin Gruber Collection may be found here. For all inquiries regarding the Gruber collection, please contact Dr. Ralph Klein , professor emeritus of Old Testament and curator of the LSTC rare book collection.

McCormick

McCormick Theological Seminary has entered into an innovative partnership with the world-renowned Newberry Library. On 9-10 July 2008, McCormick's rare books (approximately 2035 titles, 650 of which came from Lane Theological Seminary) moved to the Newberry on irrevocable deposit, joining Newberry's 1.5 million rare books, 5 million manuscript pages and 500,000 maps. Newberry will repair, catalog, preserve, and provide access and security to these rare books at their expense (compliments of a $175,000 grant from the Breslauer Foundation for this purpose). McCormick scholars may access any rare volumes -- McCormick's or any from Newberry's larger collection -- by simply presenting themselves at the Newberry Library.

Appraisal of rare and unusual materials

JKM staff does not have the expertise required to appraise the value of rare or unusual materials.  Individuals interested in having an item appraised should consult their local Yellow Pages under the heading "used, rare and out of print books."