Just came in on the news tonight,from Winnipeg,Manitoba.
University's Bible discovered to be rare first edition
Last Updated Dec 21 2005 04:01 PM CST
CBC News
Scholars have discovered an old Bible in the University of Manitoba's archives is a rare first edition, first printing of the King James Bible.
"We had hoped that it was going to be a first editing, first printing, but we couldn't confirm it until now," said Dr. Shelley Sweeney, head of archives at the University of Manitoba Libraries.
"It's just amazing that something printed 400 years ago in England, it's the most popular book in on earth, essentially, more than 1 billion in print, and here is the first edition, first copy.
IMAGE GALLERY: A closer look at the University's rare Bible
The Bible, printed in 1611, was donated to St. John's College one of the founding colleges of the University of Manitoba by Rev. Daniel Greatorex, the Vicar of Whitechapel in London, in 1897.
The book had not been identified until now, Sweeney says, because the frontispiece of the book, a critical page that would have proved when it was printed, was missing.
"Also, there's a lot of mystery about the first publication, because the king's printer that was involved printed several editions within the first year," Sweeney told CBC.
"So even if you had one that you knew for sure was from 1611, you couldn't tell for sure that it was a first printing until this year, when some of the details were confirmed with some of the differences between editions."
Worth estimated at over $400,000
Sweeney says certain typographical irregularities such as the use of the word "he" instead of "she in one specific place prove the book is not just an early version, but the original first edition, first printing.
Only about 50 first edition, first printings of the King James Bible exist in the world. Others have sold for more than $400,000 at recent auctions, Sweeney said.
This particular Bible could be worth even more; Sweeney says it includes a rare "genealogy" page, following family lineage from God to Jesus, and it includes a card indicating it was "believed to have once been the property of Kings James I" however, the card's veracity has not yet been verified.
Members of the public can visit the University of Manitoba archives to have a look at the 400-year-old book in person.
*******
Holy Bible
There is only one.
University's Bible discovered to be rare first edition
Last Updated Dec 21 2005 04:01 PM CST
CBC News
Scholars have discovered an old Bible in the University of Manitoba's archives is a rare first edition, first printing of the King James Bible.
"We had hoped that it was going to be a first editing, first printing, but we couldn't confirm it until now," said Dr. Shelley Sweeney, head of archives at the University of Manitoba Libraries.
"It's just amazing that something printed 400 years ago in England, it's the most popular book in on earth, essentially, more than 1 billion in print, and here is the first edition, first copy.
IMAGE GALLERY: A closer look at the University's rare Bible
The Bible, printed in 1611, was donated to St. John's College one of the founding colleges of the University of Manitoba by Rev. Daniel Greatorex, the Vicar of Whitechapel in London, in 1897.
The book had not been identified until now, Sweeney says, because the frontispiece of the book, a critical page that would have proved when it was printed, was missing.
"Also, there's a lot of mystery about the first publication, because the king's printer that was involved printed several editions within the first year," Sweeney told CBC.
"So even if you had one that you knew for sure was from 1611, you couldn't tell for sure that it was a first printing until this year, when some of the details were confirmed with some of the differences between editions."
Worth estimated at over $400,000
Sweeney says certain typographical irregularities such as the use of the word "he" instead of "she in one specific place prove the book is not just an early version, but the original first edition, first printing.
Only about 50 first edition, first printings of the King James Bible exist in the world. Others have sold for more than $400,000 at recent auctions, Sweeney said.
This particular Bible could be worth even more; Sweeney says it includes a rare "genealogy" page, following family lineage from God to Jesus, and it includes a card indicating it was "believed to have once been the property of Kings James I" however, the card's veracity has not yet been verified.
Members of the public can visit the University of Manitoba archives to have a look at the 400-year-old book in person.
*******
Holy Bible
There is only one.
