The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-02-06
RARE PRINTS.
Various Eliot Bibles Bring Some
Pretty Tall Prices.
Out OF Its Several Editions Few Moro
Than Hundred Copies Rennin In
ExIstence-Only One Man Liv.
Ing Can Read Them.

Rev. DR.. John Wright, in his
"Early Bibles Of America" gives an
excellent compendium Of personal
and photographed information in
regard to ''Tho Eliot Bible" says
the New York Observer. 1t was
printed at the expense Of the corpora
tion in England for the propagation
of the Gospel among the Indians In
New England. The New Testament
appeared In 1861, and the entire
Bible in 1863. In 1880 there was
second edition of the New Testament.
Another edition of the entire Bible
appeared In 1856. Like the former
editions, it contains the Psalms in
meter and the rules for Christian
living. All these editions are jewels
of great price in pathological collec-
tions. DR.. Wright makes the follow
ing record of their values: GAS the
years roll away the price Of these
rarities steadily rises. At the sale
of the Brinley library in New York,
March, 1879, an Eliot New Testa-
ment of 1861 brought $500. At the
same sale a Bible of 1868 was knocked
down at $1,000. At an auction in
1884 Bible of 1885 brought $3.50.
In London at o sale held July2, 1882,
Mr.. Quaritch, the eminent biblio-
phile, bought for the late Mr.. Kalb-
heisch, of New York, an Eliot Bible
of 1863, containing the English title
pages and dedication to Charles H.,
for $3.50, that is, about $4,000.
Eighteen years ago, Nathaniel
Paine, of Worcester, Mass, made a
list Of Eliot Bibles. By his count
the total reached ffty-four. Since
then several copies, especially those
owned privately, have changed
hands, and others have come to light.
The writer has found twelve copies
that have not been previously no.
ticed or included in any list. There
are more Eliot Bibles in the great
libraries Of Europe than was at first
supposed. The total number of In
dian New Testaments and Bibles
now known to exist Is more than one
hundred.
Wilberforce Eames, the librarian
Of Lenox library, in New York city,
Is the author of photographic Notes
on Eliot's Indian Bible and on His
Other Translations and Works in the
Indian Language of Massachusetts,"
issued by the government printing
Office, Washington, D. @. This is a
mine of accurate information In re-
gard to the various translations and
editions, with fac-similes of title and
other pages. It is not confined to
photographed details, but includes
much biographical material relating
to Eliot and his indefatigable labors.
Mr.. Eames mentions and describes
sixteen copies Of the Eliot New Tes-
lament, 1861, several of which are
In this country, two being in the
Lenox library. He describes seven
varieties of the Eliot Bible, 1853,
mentioning with interesting details
thirty.nine copies, more than half
being owned in this country, two
being in the Lenox library and one
in the Astor library. He mentions
In the same way ffty-fve copies of
the Eliot Bible, 1856. Next to the
biography of a good man is the bibli-
ography of a good book. No author
Is more frequently quoted by Mr..
Eames than DR.. James Hammond
Trumbull. For many years he has
been the leading authority in regard
to the Indian languages and litera-
ture, his pathological and historical
contributions being numerous and
valuable. He is frequently men
toned as the only man living who
can read the Indian Bible. When
be dies it will be quite safe to reckon
the Algonquin among the dead Ian
guages. -