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

The Bible of the Revolution

Lot 53
25.05.2022 17:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Sold
$ 81 900
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 752785
Lot 53 | The Bible of the Revolution
Estimate value
$ 70 000 – 100 000
The Bible of the RevolutionRobert Aitken, 1781-82BIBLE, 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 complete first edition of the first full Bible in English printed in the newly-independent United States. 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 and seldom found complete and in such good condition. This copy owned by the family of William Martin (b. 1765) of Delaware County, Pennsylvania with family history inscribed on additional five leaves in front of the first volume and rear free endpaper. This copy with the misprints "not" for "now" in II Kings vii.12, and Hosea vi misnumbered vii. ESTC W4490; Evans 17473; Herbert 1283; Rumball-Petre, America's First Bibles (1940), pp. 81-96; Sabin 5165. Two volumes, 12mo (148 x 95mm). General title with woodcut Pennsylvania arms and motto "Virtue, Liberty and Independence," New Testament with the printer's monogram on verso (scattered foxing on early and late pages, Q6 dogeared and LL7 marginal tear not affecting text in Old Testament; minor losses to K3, L, and DD6 in New Testament not affecting text). Contemporary calf with fine gilt tooling, possibly by Aitken's own bindery (neatly rebacked with original spines laid down). Custom silk wrappers and morocco box (worn). Provenance: William Martin (ownership signatures on front endpaper and title page of the first and again on pastedown of the second).
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