Today on Celebrate the Bible:
LISTEN NOW (6 minutes):
The first New Testament of Delaware, 1791.
I guess you could call today’s episode “the mystery of the multiple firsts”
According to Isaiah Thomas’ history of printing in America, the printing trade had “a late introduction into Delaware. It was, Georgia excepted, the last of the thirteen colonies where a press was established. The laws, etc., were printed in Philadelphia previous to the year 1761.”
Once the ball got rolling (as the saying goes), Delaware joined the ranks of printing states. One of the results is my choice for today: the first Delaware New Testament
Now this is not a well-known Bible. And I have come across conflicting information about it.
James Adams was the first printer of note in Delaware. He was born in Ireland and learned the art of printing in Londonderry. He arrived in Philadelphia, finding employment with Franklin and Hall. He eventually went on his own, and moved his shop to Wilmington, DE.
The information from one online source says that James Adams printed the first Delaware New Testament. This printing happened in Wilmington, in the year 1781.
Another, source (see included photo) demonstrates my example for today. It is noted as the First Delaware New Testament; Wilmington: Printed and Sold by Peter Brynberg and Samuel Adams. 1791
So, which is it?
James Adams in 1781? Or Samuel Adams in 1791?
Yale University Archive gives credit to Samuel Adams in 1791.
If you are listening to this as a podcast, and you would like to view the photos included in this episode, please visit celebratethebible250.com
Let me read the descriptive text to you now: “This exceedingly rare testament appears to have escaped all bibliographers, including such authorities as J. Wright (Early Bibles of America); E.B. O’Callaghan (A List of Editions of the Holy Scriptures and Parts thereof, Printed in America previous to 1860); and P. Marion Simms (The Bible in America). The next issue in Delaware appeared in 1802, under the imprint of Peter Brynberg alone. On account of the poor quality of paper used in Colonial Bibles, and the hard service they received, examples are in many instances scarcer than in the case of the monumental Gutenberg Bible, issued nearly four hundred years earlier.”
In closing, I would like to read an excerpt from the leaf that I have in my American Bible History collection, taken from the Book of St. Mark, chapter 5
As follows:
While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.
So, no mysteries solved today … on which is the real first Delaware new testament … and, it doesn’t seem like there will be an answer forthcoming anytime soon. So, until we meet again, and for Celebrate the Bible 250 this is Francis Douglas. If you’re interested in learning more about the History of the Christian Holy Bible in America, please subscribe now.
America 250 Semiquincentennial Bible Celebration 