Books and Manuscripts

Germantown: Christoph Saur, 1776. Third edition; one of only 3,000 copies printed. Two volumes in one. 4to. (ii), 992; 277, (3) pp.; lacking blank leaf at front. Gothic type; printed in two columns. Contemporary brown calf over wooden boards, boards rubbed and moderately worn, clasps perished, spine ends worn; all edges trimmed; pencil scrawl on front paste-down; title-page edges worn; scattered spotting to text; scattered light to moderate dampstaining in edges and in gutter; top edge repaired, pp. 477/478; loss at bottom corner, affecting some text, pp. 555-58; two-inch closed tear in top corner, pp. 771/772; open tear, affecting a few letters, pp. 877/878. Sabin 5194; Evans 14663

Scarce third edition of the first European language bible printed in America, and the first Bible printed from American-manufactured type. Famously known as the "gun-wad" bible, as its pages were used as cartridge paper and horse bedding by invading British troops during the battle of Germantown in the American Revolution. Due to this, most copies of this bible were destroyed, and it is estimated that around only 200 copies still exist. The first edition was printed by Chistopher Saur, Sr., in 1743, and the second by Saur, Jr.--the printer of this volume--in 1763.