Bible Treasures at BYU-Idaho

If you have been to the Ink & Blood exhibit in Idaho Falls, you also need to visit the Archives Room on the second floor of the McKay Library at BYU-I in Rexburg, Idaho.

 

The Special Collections and Archives Gallery presents The Scriptorium Collection.

 

I loved it!

 

I hope this is accurate.  Excited, I feverishly jotted things down.  Correct me if I am wrong.  But here is a list of items I saw.  I joyfully savored items 2, 7, 8, 9, 13, 26.

 

  1. The First Illustrated Bible in America.  A page of the Holy Bible (Worcester:  Isaiah Thomas, 1791).  Daniel 6:16.
  2. The First Bible for Children.  A page from a curious hieroglyphic Bible, 1788.  II Chronicles 16:9. [I am a board member of Red Cliff Bible Camp.  This is our theme verse for the camp.]
  3. The First English Bible printed in America.  A page from the Holy Bible (Philadelphia:  Robert Aitken, 1782).
  4. The First Bible for the Blind, under the direction of Samuel G. Howe, M.D.  A page of the Holy Bible (New York:  American Bible Society, 1842). Leviticus 6.
  5. The First Lavishly Illustrated Bible.  A page from the Illuminated Bible (New York:  Harper & Brothers, 1846).
  6. The ‘fonetik’ New Testament (Philadelphia:  Andrew Comstock, M.D., 1848).
  7. The King James Bible, 1st edition “The He Bible”, Facsimile 1611A.D.  It is an edition limited to 1500 copies.  #358.  [I had to look up Ruth 3:15.  Wow, I loved thumbing through this huge 1611 facsimile.]
  8. The First Edition of Tyndale in America.  A page showing Luke 22 (Andover:  Gould & Newnan, 1837).  [This phrase spoke to me – “Here after shall the sonne of man sit on the right honde of the power of God.”]
  9. The First Translation of the Septuagint into English, by Charles Thomson.  A page from the Holy Bible (Philadelphia:  Jane Aitken, 1808). [The page laid out Isaiah 46.  For instance, v. 15 – There is indeed no God besides thee, v. 19 – I am the Lord and there is none else, v. 20 – I am THE I AM . . . , v. 22 – I am God and there is none else.  Turn to me and ye shall be saved, ye from the farthest parts of the earth,]
  10. Biblia Sacra Mazarinea – Facsimile page of The Gutenberg Bible, original 1455.
  11. La S. Bible.  Gypsy Bible, 1618.
  12. The Bible “Breeches Bible”, 1594.  A page.
  13. The Geneva New Testament, 1582.  A page of “A Table of Controuefies”.
  14. Mamusse Wunneetupanatamwe Up-Biblum God.  The First Eliot Indian Bible (Cambridge:  Samuel Green and Marmaduke Johnson, 1663).
  15. The Table Talk of Martin Luther, 1568. [The whole book!]
  16. Offizium der Madonna (Book facsimile), Original 1488.
  17. Medieval Book of Hours, 1460 A.D.
  18. Medieval Book of Hours (Matthew:  The Three Wise Men, 1425-1450)
  19. Roman Stylus & Wax Tablet (0-300 A.D.)
  20. La Biblia di Borse d’ esto (facsimile), 1455-1461
  21. Greek Papyrus (0-70 A.D.)
  22. Cuneiform Nail and Tablet (2000 B.C.)
  23. Gregorian Chant (c. 1500 A.D.)
  24. Sermonnes – Pomerri de Sanctis, 1505 A.D.
  25. Alphabets, Numerals, and Devices of the Middle Ages (1845)
  26. The King James Bible, 1st edition, “The She Bible” 1611 A.D. [The real thing! But protected in a case.]

 

4 comments

  2. Yes, when I was in school there when it was “Ricks College” I was in the archives quite a bit……. it is a very interesting and good collection.

    Best,
    Kerry

  4. One of my very favorites was the Bible collection. It’s been sooooooooo long since I have been there, that I do’t recall all that they had. I remember there were approximately four rows of books though. The gal who was there was very nice, and quite enjoyed a young man showing such interest in old junk – GRIN!

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