The Bible collection amassed by theologian and author Dr Charles Caldwell Ryrie has smashed pre-sale estimates.

The most avidly sought lot at the sale at Sotheby's in New York was the Wycliffe New Testament, produced in about 1430 and written in Middle English dialect.

It was one of the earliest ever translations into English.

Ryrie, who died in January, was a theological teacher and proponent of dispensationalist theology who influenced thousands of theological students.

His Ryrie Study Bible sold around 2,600,000 copies and was a standard work in evangelical homes.

He was also an avid collector of rare Bibles and manuscripts. Sotheby's described the sale as one of the greatest private collections of printed and manuscript Bibles formed since the 19th century.

The Wycliffe New Testament tripled its pre-sale estimate, going for $1.7 million. Another early English Bible, a first edition by Miles Coverdale, translated from Dutch and Latin into English, is one of the most complete copies to appear at auction in over twenty years and sold for $348,500.

The whole collection, which included 195 Bibles and parts of Bibles in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, English and other languages, fetched $7,341,818 against an estimate of $3.5/$5.4 million.

Selby Kiffer, International Senior Specialist, Books & Manuscripts, said: "The outstanding result of today's sale of The Bible Collection of Dr Charles Caldwell Ryrie is a testament to the dedication with which this towering figure assembled his extraordinary group of Bibles and letters signed by theological figures. The sale followed a well-received exhibition that, despite the acclaimed Formatting the Word of God exhibition in 1998-99, marked the first time the full extent of the collection was revealed."