Described as a once-in-a-lifetime find, a unique family heirloom found its way into Sequim Goodwill. 

An 1886 “Pictorial Family Bible” was donated to the store on June 14. 

Brandi Donovan, an e-sales employee for the store, said she pulled it out of its sealed plastic bag and immediately recognized it as a family bible.

“It’s an absolutely awesome find,” she said. “This is the kind of thing I’ll only see once in my lifetime.”

In e-sales, Donovan sees donated items with higher values such as antique china, glassware, crystal, pottery, and books for posting on Goodwill’s online auction site, www.shopgoodwill.com. 

Since starting with Goodwill almost two years ago, Donovan has seen rare pieces such as china and dragonware from World War II but never a rare book like the bible.

“The historical value is priceless,” Donovan said. “This has a lot of meaning for believers and non-believers.”

Upon opening the bible, she learned it was presented to a man named William H. Duvall from “His Son” on Christmas 1887. No other information was available, even with hair and flowers pressed between the pages. 

The bible is loaded with lush black and white and color pictures, which Donovan described as phenomenal.  

She said there’s no way to find out who donated the bible because Sequim Goodwill serves as a donation hub from centers all over Western Washington. 

Her valuation for the bible is $500-$1,500 but because of its slightly compromised condition it could be on the lower end of the scale. 

The bible won’t be sold but will be on display in the Port Angeles Goodwill, 603 S. Lincoln St., through June 29, and in Sequim Goodwill, 680 W. Washington St., Suite C, from June 30-July 6. 

Donovan created a display for the bible.

“It’s probably been handled more in the last week than in the last 100 years,” she said. 

After July 6, the bible will go to the Tacoma Goodwill Headquarters for donation to a church to be determined. Donovan said they also house the Goodwill founder’s family bible from 1884.