Thomas Scott’s five-volume edition of the Holy Bible, printed between 1814 and 1816 by J. Seymour for Dodge & Sayre, is an icon of early 19th-century American evangelical scholarship. Commonly referred to as "Scott’s Bibles," this rare set was a cornerstone of family and ecclesiastical libraries. It is distinguished by its seamless integration of the Authorized King James Version text with Scott's own extensive explanatory notes, "Practical Observations," and an exhaustive system of marginal references.

This specific printing is designated as the Fourth American, from the Second London Edition, Improved and Enlarged. The iconic nature of the set, offers a snapshot of American publishing as the War of 1812 was drawing to a close. The historical significance of this early New York printing lies in its overwraught thoroughness, designed to make deep theological study approachable for the everyday reader while remaining an authoritative standard for the clergy.

The set divides the Bible into five large quarto volumes: the first three covering the Old Testament (Genesis through Malachi) and the final two dedicated to the New Testament. Beyond its text, these volumes are prized today as artifacts of early American publishing, bound in high-quality full calf leather with gold-stamped spines, reflecting the value placed on religious study during the period.

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SKU: 92381

About this Particular Bible

This is an exquisite five-volume quarto set of Thomas Scott's monumental commentary, beautifully bound in full calf with very nice gilt tooling. Notably, this historic set features the gilt-stamped name of a previous owner, 'HANNAH HOFF', elegantly preserved across the lower spine compartments.

This is a Fourth American Printing, Printed from the Second London Edition, Improved and Enlarged—a testament to how hungry the early American Republic was for authoritative British theology. Thomas Scott's evangelical commentary was the most widely read biblical guide of its generation, and printing a massive five-volume project of this scale on Pearl Street by master typography printer Jonathan Seymour required immense material investment in a blockaded wartime economy. The beautiful preservation of the owner's name, "HANNAH HOFF", stamped directly in gold across the spine, elevates this set from a simple theological text to a deeply personal piece of early 19th-century history, documenting the exact cross-section where elite craftsmanship met everyday devotion in a growing America.

Volume I: Genesis to 2 Chronicles

Volume II: Ezra to Solomon's Song

Volume III: Isaiah to Malachi

Volume IV: Matthew to Acts

Volume V: Romans to Revelation

The Exterior

The Bibles have undergone a conservation treatment. All boards firmly attached. The original leather has been treated and protected to prevent flaking, ensuring its preservation for many years, potentially extending its lifespan by another 100 years with proper care.

The Interior

These Bibles have their original pastedowns and original fly leaves. Some volumes show minor tears at the inner hinge of the fly-leaf, after-which the pages appear quite nice throughout, with minor foxing, consistent with it's age. It is crucial to understand that these are not new Bibles; they are antiquarian books that should be treated accordingly, in this case, a set of 212 year-old Bibles.

We provide detailed photographs to allow you to assess the book's condition and aesthetic appeal. Many, if not all, of the early books and Bibles we offer will show signs of aging, whether it's foxing on the pages, dog-eared or chipped corners, inscriptions from previous owners, or staining from years of use.

Provenance & Collector Significance:

The spine proudly bears the crisp, contemporary gilt-stamped ownership name of 'HANNAH HOFF'—a prominent surname tied to two influential New York and New Jersey families of the Early Republic, spanning from the affluent iron-mining dynasties of Morris County to Prominent Pioneering Ministerial Families. This high-status personalization highlights the set's role as a prized family heirloom of the early 19th century.

The gilt-stamped provenance name "HANNAH HOFF" on the spine provides a fascinating genealogical trail that connects this specific 1814 set to prominent Early American families. In early 19th-century America, having an individual’s name professionally stamped in gold across a massive multi-volume quarto set was a costly luxury, reserved for wealthy families or presented as a significant milestone gift (such as a dowry or marriage piece).

Tracing the genealogy of the name Hannah Hoff around the 1814 publication date reveals two compelling, highly plausible candidates that fit the precise regional context of this New York printing:

The New Jersey / Ohio Pioneer Connection

Hannah Hoff (1774–1857) was born into a prominent family originating in Somerville, New Jersey, before migrating near Manassas, Virginia. She married John Dye Jr. in 1792. Her father was the Reverend Daniel Hoff (1747–1802). Coming from a devout, multi-generational religious family with deep roots in the New York/New Jersey area, this expensive 1814 New York commentary set is exactly the type of heirloom a prominent regional family would purchase. Her family eventually became notable early pioneers who helped settle Washington County, Ohio, in the early 1800s. This set is a treasured artifact that traveled with a prominent East Coast family during the migration era.

The New Jersey Iron-Mining Dynasty

Mrs. Hannah Hoff of Mt. Pleasant, New Jersey (died November 20, 1832) was a prominent matriarch in Morris County, New Jersey, tied directly by marriage and family bloodlines to the wealthy Beach and Hinchman families (the tycoons behind the famous Beach Hibernia iron mines). This Hannah Hoff belonged to the ultra-elite merchant and industrial class of the New York/New Jersey borderland. Her family easily possessed the vast financial resources required to buy a deluxe, custom-bound, five-volume quarto theological set during the resource-scarce War of 1812 economic blockade.

Multi-layered ownership; the lower spines feature the original 1814 gilt-stamped name of Hannah Hoff, while the title pages bear the discrete 20th-century blue ink stamp of collector Manuel M. Zlotow, beautifully documenting the book's journey across two centuries of preservation.

Price $650.00 | Purchase Page  | See all

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