Item #302622 The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Translated out of the Original Greek: and with the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised. Appointed to be Read in Churches. BIBLE IN ENGLISH.

Rare American Bible with the Great Seal of the U.S. on the Title

The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Translated out of the Original Greek: and with the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised. Appointed to be Read in Churches.

Boston: Printed at Boston, by Alexander Young and Thomas Minns, For J. Boyle, B. Larkin, J. White, Thomas and Andrews, D. West, E. Larkin, W.P. Blake, and J. West. Sold by them at their respective book-Stores, 1794.

Price: $19,500.00


About the item

A-U6 W6 X-Z6 (Z6 verso blank). Text printed in two columns. 1 vols. 12mo. Rare American Bible with the Great Seal of the U.S. on the Title. Recent half calf. Small hole in top of title page margin (not affecting text), title leaf with tissue repair at gutter and fore edge margin, 4 other leaves with small repairs to margins. Very good. Evans 26664; Hills, English Bible in America, 48; ESTC W4683 (AAS, Duke).

Item #302622

This rare edition of the New Testament, printed in 1794 at Boston for a consortium of booksellers, aimed to provide a distinctly American printed Bible as an alternative to the British printings being imported, and thus included the Great Seal of the United States prominently displayed on the title page. Thus suggesting that even at the dawn of the American republic, certain clauses of the Bill of Rights were subject to fluid interpretation. This is an early appearance of the Great Seal of the United States and is the only instance where it was used in conjunction with a patently religious work. Copies are recorded at AAS and Duke.