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

The Bible of the Revolution

Lot 40
16.10.2020 10:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Starting price
$ 70 000
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 411447
Lot 40 | The Bible of the Revolution
Estimate value
$ 70 000 – 90 000
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.
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@
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