A cumulative author list representing library of congress printed cards and titles reported by other american libraries. As the hotter, more godly variety of protestants, the pilgrims used the geneva bible. On completion, he petitioned and received from the congress of the confederation. It offered the first bible ever printed in america in two folio volumes, with annotations by the rev. When a copy doescome to auction, it brings the highest price of any bookprinted incolonial america. Congress authorizes first printing of the bible, on this day.
On this day in history september 12, 1782 congress authorizes the first printing of the bible. That bible approved by the founding fathers in congress was the first englishlanguage bible to be printed in america. One of the first ever printed book and the most famous of all first prints was the bible. That fact was clear in the very first act of congress, authorizing the printing of twenty thousand bibles for the indians. Note that these are all authentic, not reproductions. In 1781 aitken undertook to print the first complete english bible produced in america and sought the official sanction of congress for his edition. One of the hardiest christian america myths is the idea that congress gave financial support to print the first americanpublished bible in 1782, or even that congress printed it themselves. Although the first bible printed in america was done in the native algonquin indian language by john eliot in 1663.
Largest book ever published todd pratum bookdealer. Neither is true, though congress did give an endorsement to the bible printed by robert aitken. Aitken published congresss recommendation of september 1782 and related documents item 115 as an imprimatur on the two pages following his title page. The book shows what many of the other pages of the aitken bible looked like, offers a. Aitkens bible, published under congressional patronage, was the first english language bible published on the north american continent. Robert aitken, an immigrant from scotland, published a new testament, then asked congress permission to publish the entire bible. On this one theres no real story behind it all, no misunderstanding to clear upits a fake pure and simple. In 1663, missionary john elliot printed the first bible in america at harvard.
And its the sort of fake that shouldnt deceive anybody who has the slightest understanding of american history. The book, though frequently reprinted, is now rare. Its the first bible printed in america and in a native american language. With 1,500 editions of the bible in more than 150 languages, this splendid gathering helps to document the history of western ideas, religion, art, printing, and illustration. Consequently, in 1781, a plan was advanced in congress to print america s first englishlanguage bible. The continental congress, september 10, 1782, in response to the shortage of bibles, approved and recommended to the people that the holy bible be printed by robert aitken of philadelphia. No cross, no crown founder of the state of pennsylvania.
That in every well regulated government in christendom the sacred books of the old and. This bible became the first english bible ever printed in america, and in the front of that bible was the congressional endorsement. It measured but five and fiveeighths inches by three and oneeighth inches. Robert aitkens 1782 bible was also the only bible ever authorized by the united states congress. Robert aitkens bible was the first known englishlanguage bible to be printed in america, and also the only bible. Ron davis the bible, new testament, and various books of the bible were translated into fifteen languages in america by the time of the civil war.
The library of congress catalogue card assigns to the bay psalm book. Later versions stated, noah webster who taught millions to read but not one to sin. Prior to the american revolution, the only english bibles in the colonies were imported either from europe or england. This first american bible was to be a neat edition of the holy scriptures for the use of schools. It was illegal to print bibles in the english language without a license from the king. The bible is central to american civilization and forms the core of american values. What americas founders really thought about the bible. Jane aitken, took over the family publishing business when her father died in 1802leaving her with a.
In 1763, saur produced the first bible printed on paper manufactured in america, and in 1776, saur produced the first bible printed from type manufactured in america all of which were in the german language. The gutenberg bible, lenox copy, incomplete on paper, new york public library. The reason assigned was that the use of the book was so universal. On this day in history, september 12, 1782, congress authorizes the first printing of the bible in north america by philadelphia publisher, robert aitken. It was first printed in 1640 by stephen daye, the first printer of the massachusetts bay colony, in. In 1782, the full congress approved the bible, and printing began. Publication of the bible was regulated by the british government, and required a special license. The first english bible printed in this country, as well as the first bible to be recommended to the people by the congress of the united states, was relatively small in dimensions.
Robert aitken then proceeded to print his bible, now known as the aitken bible or the bible of the revolution. According to the journal of congress for september 12, 1782, an extract of which was reprinted as the bibles preface, congress voted to recommend. John alden, however, brought a copy of the king james bible printed in 1620. She was one of the first women printers in the early united states and the first woman in the us to print an english translation of the bible. Congress authorizes the first printing of the bible. It offered the first bible ever printed in america in two folio volumes, with. New york a tiny book of psalms from 1640, believed to be the first book printed in whats now the united states, sold for just under. In the first 200 years of bible publication in america the bible or new testament was printed in algonquin, german, english, greek, latin, french, hebrew, spanish, portuguese, dutch, cherokee, and hawaian, it.
The first book that was printed and made available using this new printing technique is known as the gutenberg bible. The holy scriptures of our war for virtue, liberty, and independence the story of a girl. The first bible printed in america museum of the bible. Bought by james lenox in 1847, it was the first copy to be acquired by a united states citizen.
Jane aitken 17641832 is a significant historical figure in the early nineteenth century. Collectors pursue the first bibles printed in countries, states, provinces, and sometimes even cities. The bible collection at the library of congress offers an unparalleled opportunity to witness the bible s transformation over 800 years. Read the fascinating history of the bibles of colonial america, from the mysterious bibles of boston, to robert aitken, isaac collins, isaiah thomas, and matthew carey.
This speller is widely used in american schools and is peppered throughout with bible verses. Congress passed the following resolution, which was printed on the front page of the bible. In fact, it was not until 1640 that the first book was printed in america. As early as 1777 in the war for independence, congress considered funding the importation of bibles from holland or scotland. History of the aitken bible sale of the first american bible may 17, 1902, the new york times the patriots bible. Among the many bibles on display at museum of the bible in washington, dc, is a first edition of the socalled eliot indian bible. Barton claims that congress printed the first english language translation of the bible. It also appears in various lists of lies circulated by email, and eventually copied onto hundreds of websites.
John dickinson, the acclaimed penman of the revolution, for example, similarly observed, the bible is the most republican book that ever was written. Because english language bibles could not be printed in america but. The first book everprinted in america, the bay psalm book, a psalter, had previously been published in cambridge in 1640, with the help of john eliot and cotton mather. Chairman, and the other honble gentlemen of the committee of congress on mr. Again, on september 10, 1782, congress approved the printing of bibles in america by a man named robert aitkin. Since the bible is such a long, hardtoprint book, portions of the bible often appeared first genesis, the psalms, and the gospels were popular excerpts, followed by the new testament, and then the complete text. While those bibles were ordered imported by congress, there is no indication that any ever arrived. The translator served as the secretary of the continental congress for 15 years, then retired from public life to turn his attention to bible study and to. Jedediah morse, father of american geography, publishes the first geography text book which contains references to christianity. Congress authorizes first printing of the bible, on this. In 1777, about a year after the signing of the declaration of independence, the american colonies were suffering under the embargoes imposed by the british. Franklin delano roosevelt used his familys bible, written in dutch and printed in 1686. July 15 congress approves printing bible the bible of. On september 12, 1782, the full congress approved that bible, and it soon began rolling.
Aitkens bible, published under congressional patronage, was the first english language. An outline history of religion in american schools no. The symbolism of trumps two inaugural bible choices, from. David ramsay, a delegate to the continental congress and the first major historian of the american. Congress and president has ever endorsed, authorized, approved or recommended a version of the bible and if so who was. Rubensteins copy, on loan to the library for this exhibition, were at originally part of the historic old south church library in boston. First bible published in north america guinness world.
The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre commonly known as the bay psalm book, was the first book printed in the american colonies. The first congress and the first bible teach our history. With news this week of the discovery of what could be the earliest known siddur, a jewish prayer book dated at around 840 ad we have put together a list of 10 of the oldest known surviving books in the world today writing and literature are thought to have been first developed between the 7th and 4th millenium bc. The first bible published in north america was the socalled eliot bible which was printed in 1663 at harvard college in cambridge, massachusetts. The library of congress copy of the bay psalm book and david m. Beck, congress did not print a bible for the use of schools. Printed in brevier type on americanmade paper, it contained 726 leaves 1,452 pages. Other books featured multiple times on the list are the gutenberg bible, the first folio of shakespeare s plays and the north american indian with four separate copies. After the colonies declared independence, the british put an embargo on any bibles exported to america. List of most expensive books and manuscripts wikipedia. But it was not a version of the kings speechor kings englishthe king james bible.
Kennedy, the first catholic elected to the white house, chose a douay bible. Compiled and edited with the cooperation of the library of congress and the national union catalog subcommittee of the resources committee of the resources. A leaf from the first bible printed in the english language in america. The thomson biblea first in the history of bible publishing in america. The firstever translation into english of the septuagint, the first english translation of the new testament by an american, and the first bible printed by an american womanjane aitken. Jane published a translation into english done by the secretary of the united states congress, which was itself actually the first nonking james version english language bible ever printed in america or the western hemisphere for that matter. Aitken published congress s recommendation of september 1782 and related documents item 115 as an imprimatur on the two pages following his title page. No english bibles had ever been printed in the colonies. This bible has been called the bible of the revolution. The gutenberg bible also known as the 42line bible, the mazarin bible or the b42 was among the earliest major books printed using massproduced movable metal type in europe. Gutenberg bible the gutenberg bible was the first book ever printed, and is one of the crown jewels of the library of congress. For centuries scribes dedicated themselves to copying the scriptures by. The book was created by johann gutenberg in 1455, and was regarded as a masterpiece at the time.
The bible, the greatest book ever written, is indispensable to christianity. This made americas jane aitken the first woman ever to print the bible. The aitken bible the bible in american history the aitken bible the only bible ever printed with congressional approval. On january 21, 1781, the noted colonial printer robert aitken petitioned congress for both sanction and support for the production of a complete bible for the american people and a committee was immediately formed to determine if aitken were qualified to produce a book of such significance. Our updated as of january 2020 bible leaves pages collection. Among the important commodities that were in short supply were bibles. The bible held a significant place in the culture of early america, and one particular printed biblethe aitken biblebecame known as the bible of the american revolution. The first edition of saurs german bible came off an american press in 1743. It was far the most popular english bible until the midseventeenth century, but especially so among those termed puritans, given its associations with calvinist geneva. The first bible printed in the british colonies in america was the famous. Timeline of bible translation historyhow we got the.
But why would congress authorize the publishing of a bible. John eliot, a cambridge scholar and christian missionary, was a gifted. The only bible printing ever called for by an act of the united states congress. Its creation marked a transition in bookmaking of medieval europe in its usage of the moveable metal type. Known as the bay psalm book, but really titled the whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre, it represents what was most sacred to the puritansa faithful translation of gods word, to be sung in worship by the entire congregation. It is the very first book printed in what is now the united states. But when we seek the first bible printed in america in the english language, the fun.