In the colonial times, and the early days of the American States, there were notable editions of the Bible and New Testament printed in small towns, and especially in the State of Pennsylvania. Ephrata in Lancaster County was settled in 1733 by German Baptists. They devoted themselves to printing with industry and enterprise, and published books and newspapers in their own tongue. The noted Martyr Books and editions of the New Testament were printed on excellent paper made in the town. An edition of the New Testament in German appeared at this place in 1787, and was probably the first edition. It is printed in bold, clearfaced type, and is a most admirable example of early book-making. It is greatly prized by collectors and brings a high price. The title-page does not contain the name of any printer, but there is a note at the end of the Book of Revelation which explains that the work was done by the Dunker Community. The note reads: "N. B. Formerly printed several times, at Zurich, Basle, and Frankfort and Leipsic; now however, at Ephrata, at the expense of the Brethren, in the year 1787." At the end of the book are "Four beautiful spiritual hymns." A 16mo edition of the Psalms was printed in 1793. O'Callaghan makes no reference to the publications at Ephrata, which is a remarkable omission. Michael Billmeyer was an industrious printer of New Testaments at Germantown through a number of years. His German Testaments bear the following dates: 1787, 1795, 1803, 1807, 1808, 1810, 1815, 1819, and 1822. He also published a 12mo edition of the Psalms in 1815 and again in 1828. In 1824 Moser & Peters of Carlisle issued a German New Testament illustrated with twelve rude wood-cuts. In 1819 Johann Bär published at Lancaster a German Bible in folio. The Old Testament has a frontispiece representing Moses with the Tables of the Law, and the New Testament another frontispiece, being an engraving of the Adoration of the Shepherds. This was probably the first folio edition of the Bible in German printed in the United States. Small towns in other parts of the Union have multiplied editions of the Scriptures. Merriam & Company published in 1815 at Brookfield, Mass., an edition of the Bible of 12,000 copies. H. & E. Phinney of Cooperstown, N.Y., published their first edition of the Bible in 1822. Their work was well and carefully done, and for over twenty-five years edition followed edition, and their imprint became familiar to Bible readers. As we have been dealing with early versions and editions, this is not the place to speak of the magnificent editions of the Bible issued by the great publishing houses of our day, with their splendid facilities for printing and illustrating. While many of the early Bibles were rude and unadorned, we must respect them, for they represent conscientious work and the best art of their time. In the consideration of our subject no attempt has been made to be inclusive, as the theme is so large that only leading editions of the Bible could be noticed. O'Callaghan numbers the |