I touched a 400-year-old book yesterday

An original King James Bible
I love old books. I have a whole shelf full of vintage books, and I even own a history book from the 1600s. But yesterday I had the opportunity to turn the pages of an original King James Bible, printed on Gutenberg's printing press in 1611.

The book is in amazing condition for its age. The cover was replaced, but the pages are intact and easy to read. Because the paper was made from cotton (like money), it lasts a lot longer than paper made from wood pulp.

Of the four bibles I saw yesterday, the oldest was printed in the 1500s. All these bibles came with a guarantee of being burned at the stake if you so much as looked at them. You can imagine what happened to the men who translated and printed them. Yup.

These historic books are part of a traveling exhibit of volumes that show bibles throughout history. Included in the show are pieces of of the Dead Sea scrolls and cuneiform tablets with Old Testament writings. Also shown are ancient coins, pictographs, medieval rabbinic scrolls, and even hand-written commentaries from Martin Luther.

The Bible Through History show will run in Colorado Springs at the Glen Eyrie castle from September 1-12, 2012. If you're in the area, it's a fantastic history lesson, and not just for people of faith. Imagine if your own self-publishing efforts put your life in danger.  
How motivated would you be to get your books into print?
The guide holding the 1500s bible. The King James is the largest one.

10 comments:

  1. Hmm. Is there an age limit? Those Bibles look too accessible for my toddler tornado, if we were to visit this exhibit.

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  2. Wow, those are amazing! Thanks for sharing :)

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  3. Wow! I'm jealous! Artefacts make me insanely happy!

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  4. Stacy, I think the actual exhibit will be less hands-on than the teaser exhibit that came to our church. But maybe Enzo would rather have a playdate while you visit!

    Jess and Sonia--wish you were close enough to come. I don't know where else it will travel, but if I find out, I'll let you know.

    ~Debbie

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  5. I'm amazed they let you touch it, Debbie...what a treasure! I hope the exhibit comes to the Midwest soon. Thanks for sharing...the Word of God is something no man can destroy!

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  6. Imagining the price paid to translate these bibles makes me humble. Wow. What a great experience to touch them. I'm so in love with books!

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  7. Jarm, I'd have imagined that gloves would have been involved!

    Leah, it really hit home how many people lost their lives for these bibles.

    ~Debbie

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  8. That is so neat! Think of the number of hands that have touched those books through all those years of history. Amazing to be right there... How motivated would I be to get my books in print? They couldn't match the wisdom, so I don't guess I'd stand up for them like that... :-)

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  9. That's a good point, Kenda! And you're right to wonder how many hands have touched those pages. Kind of gives you goose bumps.

    ~Debbie

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  10. Ooh, this exhibit is right up my alley. How cool to have seen these books, Debbie! They are part of history, faith, revolution, human conviction--the works. So interesting.

    Glad you enjoyed the exhibit. :-)

    Janette

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