Old Family Bible

Discussion in 'Books' started by Dave11230, Jan 20, 2017.

  1. Dave11230

    Dave11230 New Member

    Greetings,

    I've got a question about an old family Bible and I'm curious to know if someone here has the insights to tell me when it was published.

    It is an old Statenvertaling Bible. This is something like the Dutch version of the King James Bible in English. It was first published in the 17th century, but was popular into the 20th. According to the inscriptions in mine, it belonged to my great-great-grandfather who was born about 1850. He emigrated from the Netherlands and arrived in the United States about 1903, so I assume it was published before then (though it could, concievably have been procured within the Dutch community of Western Michigan after that date). My great-grandfather signed it and he died in 1928, so I assume that it dates from before that. Anyway, there is no publication date printed in the front matter, but it does list a publisher. Specifically, it says:

    Bijbel in royaal octavo, Mediaan-letter.
    GEDRUKT BIJ ROELOFFZEN-HÜBNER & VAN SANTEN TE AMSTERDAM.
    Perhaps a page of front matter is missing that would have contained the date. I've attached images of the first three pages of my Bijbel in case anyone has any thoughts. If you don't know about publication histories of Dutch bibles, maybe you can direct me to a forum that could give me assistance. Any help is greatly appreciate.

    Best,
    Dave

    Bijbel 1.jpg

    Bijbel 2.jpg

    Bijbel 3.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 20, 2017
  2. afantiques

    afantiques Well-Known Member

    It does appear to lacking the formal title page from the preliminary pages.
    Late 19th C is a reasonable date. The most likely story seems to me that he was given it on departing Europe as a solace in a strange land.
     
  3. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

    I agree late 19th century reasonable. But you didn't post a photograph of the binding or a sample illustration which would provide help in dating.

    Debora
     
  4. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

  5. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

  6. Dave11230

    Dave11230 New Member

    Thanks for your thoughts. I've attached two images of the binding. It's very simple and there are no illustrations or other identifying marks in the Bible. The link you provided does look similar, but certainly not close enough to narrow down the date any close than "late nineteenth century" I'm afraid! Let me know what you think of these binding pictures.

    Best,
    Dave

    Bijbel Binding 1.JPG
    Bijbel Binding 2.JPG
     
  7. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

    Is that a cloth binding? And no illustrations? If so, I would think not an expensive volume at the time. (And looks right for late 1800s.)

    Debora
     
  8. springfld.arsenal

    springfld.arsenal Store: http://www.springfieldarsenal.net/

    The only references to the publisher I found mention the timeframe of activity of 1890-1910.
     
  9. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

    afantiques likes this.
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