The Bible of the Revolution - photo 1
The Bible of the Revolution - photo 2

The Bible of the Revolution

Starting price
$ 70 000
Auction dateClassic
16.10.2020 10:00UTC +01:00
Auctioneer
CHRISTIE'S
Event location
United Kingdom, London
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 411447
Lot 40 | The Bible of the Revolution
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.
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
01.10.2020 – 16.10.2020
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.