The Silver Chalice: A Novel
Thomas B. Costain
📚 Genre
Historical Fiction / Biblical Fiction
🏢 Publisher
Doubleday & Company, Inc., Garden City, New York
📅 Publication Year
1952
🔢 ISBN
None assigned for this era (Pre-ISBN)
About This Book
A fictionalized story of Basil, a young Greek artisan who is commissioned to create a decorative silver decorative casing for the cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper (the Holy Grail). The plot follows his journey through the early Christian world of Antioch, Rome, and Jerusalem. The title page features a blue lithograph of a chalice with ornate biblical figures.
Book Details
Language
English
Pages
533 pages
Edition
Hardcover Edition (likely a later printing or book club edition)
Series
Standalone novel
Target Audience
Adult / General Audience
Collector Information
Condition
Good. The paper shows significant yellowing/toning due to age. There is a visible water stain or foxing on the right edge of the title page. The binding appears intact but the pages are brittle.
Estimated Value
$5.00 - $15.00
Rarity
Common. This book was printed in massive quantities during the 1950s. While older, the lack of a dust jacket and the presence of staining on the title page significantly lower its rarity and value.
Historical Significance
A #1 New York Times bestseller for 1952; it was one of the most popular mid-century historical epics that helped define the 'Biblical Epic' craze of the 1950s in both literature and cinema.
Collector Notes
Collectors typically look for the 'First Edition' statement on the copyright page and a vibrant dust jacket. Because Doubleday printed many Book of the Month Club (BOMC) versions, look for a small indented square on the back cover; if present, it is a book club edition and worth very little. Store in a low-humidity environment to prevent further foxing and acidic paper decay.
Similar Books
The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas, Ben-Hur by Lew Wallace, Quo Vadis by Henryk Sienkiewicz, Dear and Glorious Physician by Taylor Caldwell.
Notable Features
Includes a blue-ink illustration of the Great Chalice of Antioch on the title page. This book was a massive 1950s bestseller and was adapted into a 1954 film starring Paul Newman.