The book barely filled the palm of John Sharpe's hand. But it made an impression that surpassed its size.
"Oh, my," the rare book expert said. "Look at this."
He held up the little volume so the audience at UNC Charlotte's Atkins Library could see. The book was bound in intricately worked silver -- a three-dimensional embroidery in precious metal. The little gem, in Hebrew, dated back to the 17th century. Remnants of gilding survived amid the silver, Sharpe noted.
He finally gave the owner an estimate of its value: $750.
Raphael Goldstein of Charlotte will never cash in. The book is a family treasure, he said later. But he admitted to being a little relieved at the figure Sharpe gave.
"If he had told me $10,000" -- and Goldstein stopped rather than describe the temptation -- "I'm glad it's not that much."
Goldstein and dozens of others brought their could-be treasures to UNCC on Thursday for what the library dubbed the Rare Book Roadshow -- filching from the title of public television's popular antiques show. The judgments came from Sharpe, who spent 30 years as Duke University's curator of rare books.
As on "Antiques Roadshow," some of the items had more sentimental value than monetary. But they could still impress the onlookers. Ted Alexander of Charlotte brought a volume of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow that belonged to his grandmother. The crowd let loose a sigh when Sharpe read out the handwritten inscription: Huntersville High School had awarded the book in honor of excellence in spelling -- in 1882.
Some of what Sharpe saw led him to offer tidbits for the viewers' edification:
• Bibles are almost never valuable unless they're extraordinarily old. There have just been too many of them published.
• When you read a book, don't just flip the front cover and start working through the pages. That pulls the binding out of shape. Instead, spread the book so both the front and back are open.
• "Don't eat around books!"
Julia Intawiwat brought her 1906 copy of "Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens," an imposing green volume that paired J.M. Barrie's story with illustrations by Arthur Rackham. Sharpe admired the quality of the printing and art reproductions; the color of the paper; the spacious layout of the pages; the fine condition.
"I may take this home with me," he said.
Well, he didn't go that far. He declared the book worth $2,000, though. And he gave a parting word of advice:
"Have a box made for it."
