Today on Celebrate the Bible:
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Benjamin Franklin: An American Bible Merchant
Benjamin Franklin’s Printing Press
Benjamin Franklin was an inventor, a statesman, a scholar, and a merchant of the Christian Holy Bible.
As a collector, I try to find the most interesting and unique, one-of-a-kind examples of Bible history. A few years ago now, I acquired a package that contained information about Benjamin Franklin.
This package was, long ago, in the possession of a man named Edward C. Richter. At the time, Edward Richter was president of the Franklin Printing Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The company was founded in 1728.
The main item that captured my interest was the final sheet of paper printed on Benjamin Franklin’s historic printing press.
The connection, of course, was with the gentleman, Mr. Richter. As president of the Franklin Printing Company, he was the owner of Benjamin Franklin’s original printing press.
I closely examined the printed paper. I saw that it was one of Franklin’s Gazettes. This was a periodical newspaper that he published. The date of its publication was May 10, 1744.
An advertisement for Benjamin Franklin’s book shop was prominently placed on the page.
Listed were selections of the many Bibles he offered for sale.
A Gift to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia
Edward Richter and his Franklin Printing Company was giving Franklin’s original printing press to Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Institute. This then would be displayed in their new Memorial rotunda.
The reason why I know this is because the package contained all of the official papers and correspondence. It also included press photography and newspaper clippings.
Most importantly, it also had the final page printed on Benjamin Franklin’s printing press.
This page, printed during a ceremony, was then given to Edward Richter as a gift. This all took place at the Bellevue Stratford hotel in Philadelphia on June 16, 1933.
The hand-written notation on the last printed piece states: “To Mr. E.C. Richter … This is the last sheet printed on the Franklin Press. It was placed in the Franklin Memorial Museum, Dec. 23, 1933.” And it was signed by an Emil Mueller on June 16, 1933.
Christian Books from Franklin’s Book Shop
My main interest in the sheet was the ad placed by Benjamin Franklin for his book shop. Everyone knows that the most important items for sale are always highlighted in the largest type. And the largest type used by Franklin spelled out the word: BIBLES.
Allow me to mention the variety of Christian books offered in his Market Street Book Shop: “Bibles of all sizes. Testaments. Greek and Latin testaments. Pilgrim’s progress in three parts. Ditto large edition. Penn’s no cross no crown. Buchanan’s psalms. Clark’s Erasmus.” And I’m sure there had to be many others.
In closing, I would like to read an excerpt from one of Franklin’s own writings. The title is: A Book of Gems: Choice selections from the writings of Benjamin Franklin. This is taken from an 1879 edition. As follows:
Franklin: “One religion from God”
“Is there one true and divine religion in the world? The answer of the people in this country generally is, that there is. Touching this answer, we entertain not a doubt. There is in this world one religion from God, and of supreme and absolute authority. It covers the whole ground, and leaves not the least room for any other. All others are departures from it, corruptions of it, or amalgamations with something else. That one religion was given by Christ and his apostles. Christ is the Author of it. He is the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the Ending. “All authority in heaven and on earth is given to him.” His religion, and no other, has the divine, the supreme, and the absolute authority in it. There is not one particle of divine authority in any other. All others are usurpations, existing in antagonism and rebellion, and will be overthrown.”
— Benjamin Franklin
So, until we meet again, and for Celebrate the Bible 250 this is Frank Douglas. If you’re interested in learning more about the History of the Christian Holy Bible in America, please like share, and subscribe:
America 250 Semiquincentennial Bible Celebration 