1788 Isaac Collins New Testament – Early American Imprint

The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Translated out of the Original Greek: and with the former translations diligently compared and revised. Appointed to be read in Churches. Trenton: Printed and Sold by Isaac Collins MDCCLXX[XV]III.

Description

Printed title page with Order of the Books on verso. Vertical chain lines. Text in two column Roman font with first chapter initials covering two lines of text. Inserted newspaper clipping from the Second World War laid in.

Collation

A-Z^4, Aa-Zz^4, Aaa-Kkk^4. 232 ff. Unpaginated. Complete with title page.

Binding

Original brown reverse paneled calf. Rubbed with small loss to lower corner of front board.

Condition

Browning and foxing as commonly seen. New Testament title page detached with loss of three Roman numerals to foot. Kkk1 small marginal loss; inner rear hinge cracked.  

Provenance

“Benja[min] Thornburgh his book 19th of the 10th m 1796. Who will be exactly 20 years old in 8 months from the above date Westland Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania State” on verso to final leaf of Revelation. Further family records of Thornburgh family through nineteenth century on rear flyleaf and pastedown. Pastedown reads “Sarah Thornburgh wife of Benjamin Thornburgh departed this life on the 3th [sic] day of February 1852.” A lock of (presumably) Sarah’s hair is tipped in on the adjacent page.

Note

Isaac Collins (1746–1817) was an influential American printer and publisher known for producing high-quality Bibles in the late 18th century. A devout Quaker, Collins believed in making the Bible accessible to the public. In 1791, he printed the first family Bible in America in Trenton, New Jersey. This edition was notable for its accuracy, careful proofreading, and innovative design features, including wide margins for notes and a family record section. Collins prioritized affordability and readability, which made the Bible more accessible to ordinary families and contributed to its widespread use in early America. This early American imprint of Collins’ New Testament precedes his complete Bible by three years.  A scarce example in an original binding.

References

Hills 20.