THOMAS SCOTT'S 1814-1816
The Holy Bible with Original Notes, Practical Observations and Copius Marginal References. By Thomas Scott, The Fourth American Edition published by Dodge & Sayre, New York and printed by J. Seymour
This Bible has:
RARITY
The New York City Library website describes a complete checklist with an introductory survey by Sarah Augusta Dickson, (p7-20, NYPL 1957) which in part says: "As the Bible is a book which receives much use and is not lightly laid away on a shelf it is quite understandable that the part issue would be bound up by the purchaser. This would account for the great rarity of Bibles in parts. Wiles does not list any before 1750 and I have only heard of a very imperfect copy of a London edition of 1853-1855."
This lead us to believe that these were no complete Bible parts of any Bible ever issued up to the mid-19th century in anyone's hands today. So, I assume that these 36 parts and the ones at the ABS are the only two complete sets known to exist.
HISTORIAL SIGNIFICANCE
See Hills #258 which says "The fourth American Edition of Scott's Bible (see 1804-9, No 113) was published over the period 1814 to 1816 in 36 numbers at seventy-five cents each. Volume designations appear on each number.
Volume I, Nos I-viii (1814) preliminary matter includes Author's First Preface, General Preface, and Appendix to the General Preface (i-xx); Introduction to OT and Books of Moses; text Genesis -Samuel. Volume II, Nos ix-xvi (1814) Kings-Proverbs, Chapt. xix. Volume III, Nos xvii-xxiv (1815) Proverbs, Chapt. xx-Malachi. Volume iv, Nos xxv-xxxi (1816) Matthew - 1 Corinthians, Chapt v. Volume v, Nos xxxii-xxxvi (1816) 1 Corinthians-Revelation. The American Bible Society (ABS)is still unbound and in original paper covers."
Part vi states that Dodge & Sayre have removed from Pearl Street to No 86 Broadway, corner of Wall street
These Bible parts came from the estate of Ada Yvonne Harris (1915-2002) who was a well-known collector of antiques. A public announcement of her death was withheld by her trustees for over a year in order to protect the antique shop/home premises, containing her lefetim's work (over 12,000 item), which was uninhabited and vulnerable Ada's mother Winifred Yates opened their antique business in 1938 in Morris, NY. Her great-grandfather was Dr. Yates, baronet, born in 1767 to the mannor of Sapperton, Burton-on-Trent, England. He was the first to bring the smallpox vaccine to America to Philadelphia in 1799.
MARKET DEMAND
The Presbyterian publisher William Woodward produced Witherspoon's works. He started in businesss in 1793 and depended on preachers to sell his books in newly settled lands. Between 1800 and 1825 Woodward employed at least forty-two ministers to sell his books throughout the country. They received discounts of 20% to 33%. His business was known as The Emporium of Calvinistic publications.
The purpose of Bible parts was so that the publishers could afford to print a Bible. They would print a part - get the money and then they could afford to print another part. It wasn't until 1843 when Harper & Brothers got a new press that was just invented and started the electrotype process that he was able to cut the cost of parts to 25 cents for a 28-page part. But, you only received 28 pages.
If Dodge & Sayre used the same costing method in 1815 as was used 28 years later they would have to charge $1.07 per part to make the same profit that Harper received. So, I suspect that DOdge & Sayre only produced one bible because they simply went belly-up for only charging 75 cents per part.
FIRST's FOR THE BIBLE
First American Edition
The pagination of these parts is exactly the same as WOodward's First American Edition, but, Dodge & Sayre has changed the signature markings only.
AGE OF THE PARTS
192 years
CONTENTS
The following are the part numbers of the 15 that are in origoinal bound parts condition parts: 1*, 2, 3*, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 24, 27, 32
The following are parts that are unbound: 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36.
PICTURES
Click on any of the following pictures for an enlargement, however keep in mind that this will take extra time loading depending on your connection.
BIBLE PARTS
15 Extra Bound Parts of 36
12 Extra Unbound Parts of 36
* Parts number 1 and 3 were published at 242 Pearl Street before they moved to Broadway
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