The Bible of the Revolution

Los 184
15.10.2021 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Startpreis
$ 50 000
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
VeranstaltungsortVereinigtes Königreich, London
Aufgeldsee on Website%
Archiv
Die Auktion ist abgeschlossen. Es können keine Gebote mehr abgegeben werden.
Archive
ID 627674
Los 184 | The Bible of the Revolution
Schätzwert
$ 50 000 – 80 000
BIBLE, in English – The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments. Philadelphia: printed and sold by R[obert] Aitken, 1781-1782.

The "Bible of the Revolution," a first edition of the first complete Bible in English printed in America. It is also the only Bible to be officially endorsed by Congress. During the Revolution the supply of imported English Bibles was naturally curtailed. The possibility of advancing the substantial sum required to print a Bible in the United States was already discussed by Congress in 1777, who then estimated the print run necessary to satisfy demand at twenty to thirty thousand copies. On 10 September 1782, Congress passed a resolution endorsing the printing of a Bible by the Congressional printer Robert Aitken, and authorized him to publish their recommendation of his "pious and laudable undertaking ... in the manner he shall think proper." The Congressional resolution appears on the contents leaf following the general title. Although printed in a large edition, copies are nevertheless now very rare; only 3 complete copies appear in the auction records of ABPC for the past 20 years. This copy with the misprints "not" for "now" in II Kings vii.12, Hosea vi misnumbered vii, and "thy" for "the" in I Timothy iv.6. ESTC W4490; Evans 17473; Herbert 1283; Rumball-Petre, America's First Bibles (1940), pp. 81-96; Sabin 5165.

Two parts in one volume, 12mo (107 x 84mm). General title with woodcut Pennsylvania arms and motto "Virtue, Liberty and Independence," New Testament with the printer's monogram on verso (first and last several leaves worn at edges, repairs to title with portions of typographic border in facsimile, Congressional resolution leaf and first and last two text leaves each with loss of several letters, some catchwords and signature marks affected, bound a bit tightly obscuring words in inner margin, G7 with loss of two words in bottom margin, an old adhesive label on H8v covering several words.) Contemporary plain sheep (rebacked with original spine laid down, front endleaves replaced, back endleaves worn, repair to corners); quarter morocco case. Provenance: worn ownership inscription dated 1786 on rear free endpaper.
Adresse der Versteigerung CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
Vereinigtes Königreich
Vorschau
01.10.2021 – 15.10.2021
Telefon +44 (0)20 7839 9060
E-Mail
Aufgeld see on Website
NutzungsbedingungenNutzungsbedingungen

Mehr von Creator

Antiquities of Mexico
Antiquities of Mexico
$16 000
Verbiest's world map
Verbiest's world map
$12 000
A previously unknown invoice for furnishings
A previously unknown invoice for furnishings
$2 800
Iliad, in Latin
Iliad, in Latin
$1 500
New York City commissions a painting of Washington
New York City commissions a painting of Washington
$100
The East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere
The East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere
$1 000
Inscriptiones sacrosanctae vetustatis
Inscriptiones sacrosanctae vetustatis
$1 200
Huguan County, Lu’an Prefecture, Shanxi Province
Huguan County, Lu’an Prefecture, Shanxi Province
$1 600

Verwandte Begriffe

?>