Parallel Bible 1885

5B The Holy Bible containing the Authorized and Revised Versions of the Old and New Testaments Arranged in Parallel Columns. Syracuse NY, 1885.

Notes

The Parallel Bible features the King James Version (KJV) and the Revised Version (RV) side by side from 1885. The 1885 Revised Version was the first official revision of the KJV since its publication in 1611 and was undertaken by a team of British and American scholars. Its goal was to update the language of the KJV and correct errors based on more accurate Greek and Hebrew manuscripts that had become available in the centuries since the KJV’s translation. This edition sought to maintain the literary majesty of the KJV while improving textual fidelity and clarity.

The parallel format in this edition allows readers to see the continuity and divergence between the two translations—offering a window into how biblical scholarship and linguistic understanding had evolved by the late 19th century. While the KJV retained its popularity and poetic resonance, the RV was valued by clergy and scholars for its more precise translation, especially in the New Testament, which was completed in 1881, with the Old Testament following in 1885. This Bible would have been both a devotional and academic tool, catering to a growing readership interested in a more critically informed understanding of Scripture while still honoring the revered King James tradition.

Description

Incredibly ornate Victorian binding of brown leather with intricate illustrations of Bible scenes and lettering in gilt on the upper and lower boards. Five raised bands with gilt designs and lettering within each compartment. Silver metal clasp closure which is still in functioning order. Gilt edges. Full page illustrations throughout. Blank Heirloom pages between books which could be filled with personal family history. Some cracking to the leather on upper and lower boards and extremities. Repaired spine with binders tape on inner hinge. Ivory silk endpapers. Very Fine condition overall.