Polyglot Bible 1880s

6B English Version of the Polyglot Bible. Old and New Testaments with copious and original selection of references to parallel and illustrative passages. London: Samuel Bagster and Sons, ca. 1880s. With lovely provenance.

Notes

The Holy Bible has been one of the most widely printed books in history, with the advent of the printing press in the fifteenth century—most notably the Gutenberg Bible—marking a turning point in its dissemination. Over the centuries, English translations such as the King James Version of 1611 became central to religious life in the English-speaking world. By the nineteenth century, advances in industrial printing and publishing greatly increased the availability of Bibles, allowing them to be produced in a wide range of formats. This period saw a shift from purely ecclesiastical texts to volumes intended for personal and household use, reflecting both the growing literacy of the population and the importance of the Bible as a fixture in everyday family life.

The English Version of the Polyglot Bible, published in London by Samuel Bagster and Sons circa 1880s, is a distinguished example of nineteenth-century biblical scholarship and printing, designed to make the study of Scripture more accessible through an extensive system of cross-references. This volume presents the English Authorized King James Version alongside carefully arranged references directing readers to related passages throughout the Old and New Testaments. Unlike traditional polyglot Bibles, which print Scripture in multiple languages for comparative study, this English edition emphasizes the connections between biblical texts, allowing readers to explore recurring themes, prophecies, and theological interpretations across different books of the Bible. Samuel Bagster established his London publishing house in 1794 and became internationally renowned for producing scholarly Bibles, particularly his celebrated polyglot editions, which required exceptional precision in typography and page design. The English Version reflects Bagster’s broader ambition to encourage comparative scriptural study while providing a practical devotional resource for English-speaking readers. Its meticulous arrangement of references and association with one of Britain’s foremost nineteenth-century Bible publishers make it an appealing example of Victorian religious publishing and the evolving tradition of biblical scholarship.

During the nineteenth century, advances in printing technology and the expansion of commercial publishing led to a remarkable increase in the production of Bibles and prayer books. Improvements in typesetting, paper production, and binding allowed publishers to produce both affordable household editions and finely crafted personal copies. Many volumes from this period were issued with decorative leather bindings, gilt-edged pages, elaborate tooling, and marbled endpapers, reflecting the Victorian appreciation for craftsmanship and beauty in bookmaking. As a result, Bible and prayer book editions from the 1800s often combine devotional significance with the artistry of the period’s bookbinding traditions, making them both meaningful religious texts and finely produced examples of nineteenth-century printing and binding.

Description

Bound in maroon morocco with brass cornerpieces. Claps and centerpiece with the initials GLH for Gertrude Louisa Harris to whom this Bible was given on her marriage on March 23, 1876. Spine lettered in gilt. Lavish gilt turn-ins. Some marking and fading, but overall a very good copy with maps throughout and some discoloration to upper board. Bound in is a page recording the presentation of this Bible to Gertrude Russell (as she then was) with the names of the subscribers. The note records their “appreciation of the many Christian Acts with which she has been associated.” Loosely inserted two printed copies, one signed, of the thank you letter from Gertrude to her friends. Deeply personal artifact.