Although Robert Aitken published many books, papers, and journals, from the commencement of his business in 1769, soon after his emigration to America, today he is disproportionately remembered for his bible, the first English language bible to be published in America.
The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments: Newly translated out of the Original Tongues… Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by R. Aitken, 1782.
No English-language Bible had been published in America during the colonial period, as the English Crown held the copyright to the King James version, and printed all Bibles in London.
Starting in 1776 with the start of the American Revolution, the war with Britain had cut off the importation of Bibles.
Aitken had printed copies of the New Testament in 1777, 1778, 1779, and 1781. In 1780, he started reproducing the bible, and the following year requested that the Chaplains of Congress endorse the book for accuracy.
Later dubbed “The Bible of the Revolution”, Aitken’s Bible was small enough at 4 inches wide by 6 inches tall to fit into a coat pocket. 10,000 were printed in 1782 and fewer than 30 are known in existence today. The bible was printed at Aitken’s Philadelphia print shop, using an early American movable-type press. The paper stock was a thick grade of wood-pulp paper, as cotton was deemed to be too expensive for this production. Unfortunately, his endeavor ended in financial loss and many of the bibles were ultimately thrown away.
Resources
There are a number of websites that cover the creation of the Aitken bible. Here are a few. (These are external links and will open in a new tab or window.)
The First American Bible – try to ignore the religious gobbledy gook; there is a nice essay here about Robert Aitken.
No, Mr. Beck, Congress Did Not Print a Bible for the Use of Schools – this provides a good account of the bible’s importance today from an article on the Huffington Post.
Wonderful Footnote List from Chris Rodda’s book, Liars for Jesus. This list has links to tons of original sources. Someday I hope to be able to explore these in detail.
Congress and the Bible, the first chapter from Liars for Jesus, a book by Chris Rodda.
Hi Karen: Christopher Harrar Brown, my brother, introduced me to your site. Very interesting and enjoyable! I visited the Caxton Book Club of Chicago recently, and a member pointed me towards original leaf pages of the Aitken Bible. If you are interested, here are the details:
Here are the Aitken Bible leaf books I have recorded. I compiled a list of leaf books about ten years ago and it was published by the Caxton Club in their book: Disbound and Dispersed.
Dearden, Robert R. (Robert Rowland), and Douglas S. (Douglas Sloane) Watson. An Original Leaf from the Bible of the Revolution, and an Essay Concerning It by Robert R. Dearden Jr., and Douglas S. Watson. San Francisco: Printed for John Howell by Edwin and Robert Grabhorn, 1930. 34 pages, 10 1/2 x 7, blue boards with red niger back. 580 copies issued, of which 515 copies were of the Colonial edition, each with an original leaf from the Bible printed by Robert Aitken in 1782; 50 copies were of the Signers’ edition; and 15 editorial copies, each containing original leaves of both Old and New Testaments and an original leaf from The Confession of Faith printed and sold by B. Franklin, Philadelphia, 1745. UofC Northwestern Kramer Newberry SFPL. Borden, Magee & Olmsted 55. This was re-published in 1998.
COPY: Kramer.
COPY: Newberry Library: Wing ZP783.A311
COPY: Northwestern University: L Private Presses Grabhorn De (No. 399)
COPY: University of Chicago: BS185 1782.P52 Rare
COPY: Grabhorn Collection/SFPL
———. An Original Leaf from the Bible of the Revolution, and an Essay Concerning It by Robert R. Deardon Jr., and Douglas S. Watson. Greenwood, Indiana: Jonathan Byrd, 1998. [2] 34 pages, publisher’s black leather-like material. Original leaf from the Aitken 1782 Old Testament at page 7. Addendum 029. Reprint of the Grabhorn leaf-book of 1930.
Goodspeed, Edgar J. The Aitken Bible, an Original Leaf with an Introduction by Edgar J. Goodspeed. Los Angeles: Printed for Dawson’s Book Shop by Muir Dawson, 1949. 16 pages, 6 1/4 x 4, tan wrappers. 400 copies. Borden, Magee & Olmsted 57.
Mrs. Kramer has been selling off Kay Kramer’s library and she may have his copy for sale. You may say I suggested you check with her and find out it she has the Grabhorn edition of 1930 available for sale. She is smart about prices, so expect her to be on the mark.
Mrs. Kay M. Kramer
1717 Winesap Lane
Kirkwood MO 630202
217 344 6311
Otherwise, three copies of the Dawsons 1949 edition are currently for sale at 250 275 and 300.
https://www.vialibri.net/searches/11e8bdf2-fc53-b640-9d87-dd94ccb769f7?sort_by=price&sort_order=asc
How much do you think the Aitkin title page is worth? I want to purchase one that is for sale. I have no idea it’s worth. Thank you .
How many books are in the Aiken Bible
But your link to No, The first Bible wasn’t printed for the schools excludes “The Holy Experiment”! Personally grew up with “Holy Experiment” with bible read every morning until Sixth grade until radical Fifth Column of communists began their lawsuits to fulfill this 8th beasts and her interfaith harlots (Daniel 7:25)! Facts are stubborn things!