Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-29
RARE OLD VOLUMES
Collection of Bibles at the Ma
tionaI Museum.
DISPLAY IN Three CASES
Exhibit in Recognition of the Ter
centenary of the King
James Version.

In recognition of the tercentenary Of
the publication Of King James version Of
the Bible, the National Museum has just
put on exhibition a collection Of rare and
interesting Bibles that are a part of it's
collection. The display fills three cases
on the art gallery. floor of the new Mu-
scum building. There are about thirty
volumes. each representing a stage in the
development OF the volume from the
earliest time down to the present day.
The King James Bible. as 1t is called,
occupies the center of the display, and on
each side are the volumes leading up to
that publication and those that have since
been made from that standard. Rare as
they are, most of the volumes are fac
smile reproductions, as the originals
would not be obtainable at any price,
For instance, there is the codex of the
Vatican that is in the Vatican library at
Rome
Greek and Hebrew Versions.
Antedating that, there are Greek and
Hebrew versions. some Of the Hebrew
volumes being printed without the vowel
marks that are a part of the printed lam
guage, and some with them. There are
the Luther aand the Wyskliffe bibles,
which were largely used in compiling the
King James version, and curious old
Dutch Bible OF an earlier date.
One of the remarkable books is merely
a condensation of the Bible that was car
ried by Cromwelrs soldiers. The ex-
tracts deal entirely with war, and the aim
Of the volume was to excite the enthu-
siasm of the Roundheads in shifting the
enemies Of God, which to them were
synonymous with the enemies of Crom-
well.
Contains Line Drawings.
tary is illustrated with very rough line
drawings of scriptual happenings and a
certain amount of text under each. This
was for the benefit Of those in the early
English days, when reading was a rare
accomplishment. and the pictures were
intended to convey Bible lessons to the
illitcrate 1t is possible they might do
this by strong exercise of the magma
ton.
Another quaint illustrated book shown
Is the Heroglyphic Bible. that contained
nothing but pictures-nOt like a modern
puzzle picture intended to mislead, but
intended for the use of those who could
not read.
One of the originals is the Jefferson
Bible. reprinted by authority of Congress.
1t is remarkable in that it Is made up
entirely of pasted columns. the first
Greek, the second Latin, the third Frent h
and the last English. On some of the
pages there are marginal notes in JEFF
ferson'S own hand.
Parchment in Greek.
The gem of the collection is also a re-
production. but 1t is known as the Wash
ingtol. folio because the original eventu-
ally will be in the National Museum. It
is the parchment volume in Greek from
the Freer collection, and has been repro
duced by photography, a page at time.
making remarkable volume. There are
four Of these altogether. representing the
greater part Of the Dible as We know it
now. 1t Is probably as old as the CodeX
Of the Vatican. The original will come
to Washington with the rest of the Freer
collection.
The display OF Bibles was arranged by
l. M. Casanowicz of the National Mu-
scum, who has charge of that part of the