Skip to content

Cart

Your cart is empty

Article: A Stunning 19th Century Family Bible

19th Century

A Stunning 19th Century Family Bible

New to our Colorado shop is this beautifully restored and exquisitely bound Brown’s Self Interpreting Family Bible. Brown’s Self-Interpreting Family Bible was first published in 1778 in two volumes in Edinburgh. The Self-Interpreting Bible was Reverend Brown's most significant work, and it remained in print well into the twentieth century.  Although undated, this family bible was published by William T. Amies, in New York and Philadelphia, circa 1880. 

This bible was produced as a family bible, to be handed down through a family with each successive generation. Family bibles were used as a marker of each married couple’s journey through life and the family’s history was commonly recorded in the bible. This bible features pages for family portraits, as well as places to record family births, deaths, and marriages. The family pages of this bible are blank, and could still be filled in and used as originally intended by whoever purchases this bible. 

Brown’s Self Interpreting Family Bible

Brown’s Self Interpreting Family Bible

Family bibles, often very large and elaborately decorated, first came into popularity during the Victorian era in the United Kingdom. Afterwards, the family bible was seen throughout Europe and eventually made its way into American households. 

Brown’s Self Interpreting Family Bible

This bible’s period binding is exquisite, with full black leather boards stamped, embossed, and engraved with intricate gilt details. The front and back boards both feature a deeply carved crucifix detailed in gilt and borders filled with gilt tooling of flowers, leaves, and interlocking circles. 

In the late 19th century, to counter the popularity of cheaper, popular dime novels, several publishers sought to elevate the book back to a piece of artistry that would be cherished for generations to come. They used expensive leathers, gilt details, and elegant engraved illustrations to do so. These sumptuously bound special editions of bibles, encyclopedias, dictionaries, and poetry, like the Bible seen here, valued the book as a work of art in itself.

Stop by our shop at the Broadmoor to see this stunning Bible in person. Or shop it online!

Read more

Documenting the Life of George Washington - The Great Republic

Documenting the Life of George Washington

Read about two prominent accounts of George Washington's life.

Read more
Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for Him - The Great Republic
American-made gift ideas

Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for Him

Valentine's Day gifting for that special man in your life is easier than you think! We've rounded up twelve great gift ideas. We've selected products made with intention, care, and quality material...

Read more

Blog posts

Tracking Arizona’s Growth, from Territory to 48th State - The Great Republic

Tracking Arizona’s Growth, from Territory to 48th State

Arizona became the nation’s 48th state in 1912. Prior to its statehood, Arizona was a part of the Territory of New Mexico. It was then organized as a separate territory on February 24, 1863. Read m...

Read more
A George Washington Memorial Engraving, with an Interesting Publication History - The Great Republic
prints

A George Washington Memorial Engraving, with an Interesting Publication History

Published twice, both in times of collective mourning and reflection, John Donlevy's calligraphic memorial print of George Washington offered the public a means of remembrance, celebration, and con...

Read more
Fascinating Railway Maps of the 19th Century - The Great Republic
Antique Maps

Fascinating Railway Maps of the 19th Century

In the mid-1800s, railroads were transforming the landscape of North America, revolutionizing transportation, industry, and shifting populations seemingly overnight. Maps from this era reflect this...

Read more
Back to the top