1812 FIRST STEREOTYPED BIBLE. The Bible that Finally Made it Possible for Every Home to Own the Scriptures!

This is the finest copy of a very important Bible we have ever laid hands or eyes on; it is often found quite defective since it was distributed in the midst of the War of 1812 and more cost effective, meaning it traveled West, was used more regularly, etc., 

Why was it so important?

Bibles at the time were still being printed with moveable type. The process was slow, labor-intensive, and expensive. Stereotyping meant entire pages were cast as a single plate. No tedious letter by letter set. Once procured, the plates could be used over and over again, stored, re-used, etc., But the buy-in was dear. 

The Philadelphia Bible Society saw the need for Bible distribution as the country moved West, often largely led by poor families. They needed to bring their faith with them. 

The Philadelphia Society negotiated with the British Government and the U. S. Government to allow for the safe delivery of the plates from England. Normally, embargos and heavy taxes in place during the War of 1812 would have made the journey impossible or impossibly expensive. It is perhaps notable that because of the many Quakers involved, the Pennsylvania Bible Society was perhaps the only one this could have been arranged with. Many of the Quakers were advocates of pacifism and non-resistance, and therefore not involved in the War.

The original run, of which this is one, is thought to have been somewhere around 1,500 Bibles. This initial run was followed by a steady flow of imprints utilizing the same plates, but with different title and prefatory matter.

And the plates really did change everything. Families no longer needed to save up a month's earnings to purchase one family-sized Bible. They could be purchased, given away, brought by missionaries traveling with settlers to the West, given to poor families and slaves. For the first time in America, the Scriptures were truly available to anyone who had a mind to read them.

We have handled perhaps 3 or 4 of these over the years. They are rarely in good condition and often incomplete. This is far and away the best example we have ever handled. Worthy of an exemplary personal collection or institutional collection.

The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments: Translated out of the Original Tongues, and with the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised. Stereotype Edition. Stereotyped for the Bible Society at Philadelphia, by T. Rutt. 1812. 

Original blind paneled calf with some abrading at extremities, small rub through at base of spine, discrete chip at head of spine. Very attractive and consolidated nicely. Blank ffep has two page history of the early Brayton family of Massachusetts, dating from the late 18th century forward. Small tears with losses to those leaves. From the title to the final leaf, the text is generally bright, clean, and crisp. Just an exceptional example.