The Detroit times., 1910-11-28

mechanism Is nowhere more appar-
ent than in the Bible publishing III.
dustry. A demonstration OF this was
the publication OF the Caxton Memoir
ial Bible as a part OF the memorial
exercises held In England a few
years ago in honor Of CaXton. the
first English printer. This special
edition was printed at the University
Press. Cambridge, and bound in Lon
don. distance OF sixty-three miles.
The finished volumes oil the edition
were in the hands OF the recipients
within sixteen hours after the first
portion OF the copy was given TO the
printer This remarkable feat OF
publication was deemed fitting me-
mortal 10 the man who so painstak-
ingly set type for the first Bible pub
lished in England
specimen OF the CaNton Memoir
ial edition now rests in the British
museum beside copy of that first
English Bible published in 1850 Both
were printed from metal type set by
hand, as were all the earlier Bibles
But here the resemblance in the pro-
cess OF publication ceases The pro-
cess OF plate-making has now almost
entirely superseded the old-fashion-
ed type inn Bible publication. This
reduction OF labor has reduced the
cost OF production to a minimum and
Bibles are correspondingly low
priced. Last year the American
Bible Society was able TO reduce tho
price OF cloth-bound testament from
six TO five cents copy and TO sell
complete Bible for seventeen cents.
The British society furnish a tesla.
I m IN Ill
sixpence
While the majority of the Bibles Of
the world are produced by the Ameri-
can and British societies there are
numerous other publishers both in
America and Europe engaged exclu-
sively in Bible productions. These
furnish fine books for the subscrip-
ton trade for gifts and special usage.
| The Bible societies issue only the
scriptures, All teachers Bibles and
other issues in which maps. history
and material useful TO the student
ar ecombined with the Bible, are Is
/ sued by private publishers. Some OF
these have built up enormous trades.
especially in illustrated Bibles, which
might be said 10 form a class by
themselves. During the past year in
America, Bibles have been printed In
, seventy-one languages. In some OF
these only single volume has been
issued but the plates are ready TO
| supply any reasonable demand on
snort notice. The British and Ameri-
can societies each publish Bibles in
quite number OF languages, which
the other does not duplicate Thus
the expense OF translation and re-
vision in any language is made as
broadly useful as possible.
During the past year the American
Bible society issued 2.S26S3l volumes
and the British society 6.62O,O24,
while Germany, Russia. France and
the other European countries com.
Dined report the issuage of 1881 900.
In addition TO these are the Bibles
issued by private publishers in the
various countries, which are said to
amount TO over 100000. This places
the total number of Bibles issued dur.
ing the year 1910 at nearly 5000 900
! volumes, or one copy for every one
hundred persons on the globe.
me estimated amount of annual
expenditure for labor and materials
I Is placed at considerably over $4,000.
ooo. While there is no definite means
OF determining the number OF per.
sons In the world engaged in the
industry OF Bible production there is
no reason TO question the following
statement made by an agent OF the
American Bible society. IF the men
engaged in fighting the evils of super.
sutton and ignorance by the distribn-
ton OF Gods word were all assem-.
bled in one mighty army, their nun.
Ders would have a conquering force
equal TO that of any standing army
in the world"
Tomorrow-independ Telephones.