Brown’s Self-Interpreting Family Bible by the Rev. John Brown, Illustrated, c. 1880

Brown’s Self-Interpreting Bible. The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments,  According to the Authorized Versions. With an Introduction: Marginal References and Readings;  Explanatory Notes and Reflections. By the Rev. John Brown, of Haddington. And Many Thousand Additional Notes by the Rev. Henry Cooke, D.D., LL.D., President, Assembly’s College, Belfast. Re-Edited, with Considerable Additions by the Rev. J. L. Porter, D.D., LL.D., Professor of Biblical Criticism, Assembly’s College, Belfast. Illustrated by Historical Designs and Scenes from Bible Lands. London: The Gresham Publishing Company, circa 1880s. Large quarto, with original full leather carved and gilt tooled boards, all edges gilt, and metal clasps. Presented with a custom-made archival clamshell box with gilt tooling.

Presented is a 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 The Gresham Publishing Company, in London, circa 1880. 

Reverend John Brown (1722-1787) was a Scottish Minister of the Gospel at Haddington. He wrote numerous works on the bible, including The Dictionary of the Bible, A General History of the Christian Church, and Brown’s Self-Interpreting Family Bible, as seen here. 

The design of the Self-Interpreting Bible, Brown explained in the original preface, was “to present the labours of the best commentators in a manner that might best comport with the ability and leisure of the poorer and labouring part of mankind, and especially to render the oracles of God their own interpreter.” Thus, the work contains a thorough history, chronology, geography, and summary, as well as explanatory notes and reflections, on the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments. As this was printed as a “self-interpreting” bible, many of these notes occur in the margins, next to the pertaining scripture. This bible is further elucidated by upwards of eight thousand explanatory and critical notes by the Reverend Henry Cooke, D.D., LL.D., a minister of the Presbyterian Church and President of Assembly’s College in Belfast. It was further edited and notated by Reverend J. L. Porter, D.D., LL.D., a Professor of Biblical Criticism at Assembly’s College in Belfast.

A publisher’s advertisement for Brown’s Self-Interpreting Family Bible was printed in the January-July 1880 issue of The American Bookseller journal. The advertisement claims, “Brown’s Self-Interpreting Bible is widely and most favorably known on both sides of the Atlantic. It is pre-eminently A Family Bible, suitable alike for all the members of the household and particularly Helpful in explaining difficult passages, and admirably adapted to promote a Devotional spirit. Also, its unusually Clear Type makes it an excellent Book for Pulpit use, while the Notes and Comments render it particularly useful to the Clergyman, the Student, and all who would understand the Word of God.”

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 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. 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.

This bible’s period binding is exquisite, with full burgundy leather boards stamped, embossed, and engraved with intricate gilt details. All paper edges are gilded and the bible has two gold clasps, with delicate engraved patterns. This bible is further embellished with black and white illustrations throughout. All full page illustrations, these scenes were printed as steel engravings. Several full-color pages, most notably stunning “Presentation,” “Matrimony,” and “Family Temperance Pledge” pages, were printed in variations of red, pink, gold, sage, and light and cobalt blue.

The advent of the printing press encouraged the craft of books that the small, literate class valued well as works of art. In the late 19th century, several publishers sought to elevate the book back to a piece of artistry that would be cherished for generations to come, and used expensive leathers, gilt details, and elegant engraved illustrations to do so. These sumptuously bound special editions of bibles, encyclopedias, dictionaries, and poetry countered the popularity of cheaper, popular dime novels. 

CONDITION:

Very good condition. Large quarto. Original front and back boards in full burgundy leather, with blind stamping, intricate gilt tooling and accents, beautifully restored. The spine has raised bands, gilt titles, and tooling. All edges gilt. Two gold clasps, clasps are engraved. Spine with some light bumping, mostly at bottom. 

Interior pages are very healthy and clean. Light toning. Illustrated throughout, with full-page and half page black and white steel engravings. Illustrations are in very good condition. Blank family pages, to include presentation page, family marriages, births, and deaths, and family temperance pledge. Family pages are facsimile. 

The bible has been professionally restored and preserved. Bible is housed in a new, custom-made burgundy clamshell case. The case is archival and features gilt stamp to the front and gilt titles and tooling to the spine. 

Bible Dimensions: 12 5/8" H x 10 3/4" W x 4 1/4" D.
Clamshell Dimensions: 13 3/4” H x 11 7/8" W x 4 3/4" D.

Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.