Bible in English

Two parts in one volume, 12mo (6 x 3 1/2 in.; 152 x 89 mm). General title with woodcut arms of Pennsylvania within border of printer's ornaments, congressional resolution leaf (=3A6) bound after the general title, separate title-page for the New Testament with woodcut vignette and separate register, the whole enclosed within an ornamental border, printer's woodcut monogram on verso of title-page, text in double columns, no pagination; moderate to severe browning and staining (strongest at front and back) with narrow margins, as usual, minor paper flaw on I6 and two small holes on ²A6 costing a few letters in lower right corners, final leaf ²2d6 remargined along the bottom. Contemporary calf, smooth spine, 8 circles roughly incised on upper cover to a lozenge pattern, later lettering piece; rebacked, original spine laid down, free endpapers stained and partially remargined.   

Formatting the Word of God 12.3; ESTC W4490; Evans 17473; Herbert 1283; Hildeburn 4184; Hills, English Bible in America 11; Sabin 5165

First edition of the “Bible of the Revolution,” the first complete bible in English to be printed in America and the only bible ever endorsed by Congress. With misprints reading “not” for “now” in 2 Kings 7:12; Hosea 6 misnumbered “7”; and “thy doctrine” for “the doctrine” in 1 Timothy 4:16. Prior to the war, British printers held the royal patent to publish the King James Bible to the exclusion of American printers. During the war importation of English bibles ceased. When peace was declared, the ban on bibles from England was lifted, which subsequently threatened sales of the first complete American edition, undertaken by the congressional printer Robert Aitken. The “Bible Congress” of 1782, as it was known, passed a resolution—or rather endorsement—on 10 September to protect Aitken’s investment. In true entrepreneurial spirit, Aitken inserted a copy of the endorsement, in prominent view, just after the general title-page.