This 1896 Gilded Victorian Combination Bible, published by the Publishing Department of Chas. F. Adams in Erie, Pennsylvania, stands as a magnificent and pristine monument of late 19th-century American religious heritage. This heirloom-quality folio features a groundbreaking "Combination Edition" system, which integrated text changes, additions, and omissions directly into the flow of the scriptures to allow readers to compare the Authorized and Revised Versions seamlessly at a glance. Carrying a copyright date of July 14, 1896, this beautifully preserved Bible serves as both a high-level theological resource and a masterpiece of the late Victorian era printing and binding.

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SKU: 92407

SELF-PRONOUNCING EDITION. COMBINATION HOLY BIBLE,

SHOWING IN SIMPLE FORM ALL CHANGES, ADDITIONS AND OMISSIONS THAT APPEAR IN THE REVISED VERSION, ENABLING ALL BIBLE READERS TO SEE AT A GLANCE WHEREIN THE TWO VERSIONS DIFFER. CONTAINING

The Old and New Testaments,

TRANSLATED OUT OF THE ORIGINAL TONGUES;

AND

WITH THE FORMER TRANSLATIONS DILIGENTLY COMPARED AND REVISED

CONFORMABLE TO THE EDITION OF 1611, COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE AUTHORIZED OR KING JAMES VERSION

CONTAINING MARGINAL REFERENCES; CHRONOLOGICAL TABLES AND MANY IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE AIDS TO THE STUDY OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, WRITTEN TO INCREASE THE INTEREST AND SIMPLIFY THE WORD OF GOD.

PUBLISHING DEPARTMENT CHAS. F. ADAMS ERIE PA.

About this Particular Bible

As a grand centerpiece of the Victorian home, this ornate Bible was designed to command authority in the family parlor, serving as an active tool for advanced scriptural study. This particular Bible is defined by the rare "Combination" format feature. A Combination Bible allows everyday readers to engage with scholarly textual criticism by displaying the variations between the traditional King James Version and the 1881–1885 Revised Version directly within the text layout. What makes this copy exceptionally unique is that it still retains its original, fragile ephemera: a promotional flyer detailing public praise for the edition and a special instructional bookmark explaining how to navigate the parallel readings. Complete with unused, intricately bordered Family Portrait frames and blank Genealogical Record pages, this specific copy survives as a remarkable "clean slate," preserving its original 1896 publishing context exactly as it left the binder.

The Exterior

The exterior of this Bible is a beautiful example of late-Victorian luxury bookbinding. It is enclosed in a heavy, deeply sculpted full leather cover featuring architectural beveling and intricate geometric blind and gold tooling. The front cover and spine are lavishly decorated with brilliant gold-stamped highlights, including detailed religious tableaux in the corners, ornate filigree, and a bold, central "Holy Bible" cross motif. Most notably, the volume retains its original, fully functional dual silvered-metal side clasps, which firmly secure the text block and perfectly complement the book’s gleaming, fully burnished gold page edges. While some areas of the front outer hinge show cracking in places, the covers have been professionally reinforced from the reverse side of the binding. This expert structural repair successfully retains the remaining strength in the hinges, ensuring that the heavy binding will hold strong and remain completely safe to handle for many years to come.

The Interior

The Bible retains a crisp and clean text block that flows beautifully with its gilded exterior. The internal pages are exceptionally well-preserved, showing only a light, natural edge toning that highlights its authentic history without compromising readability. This copy is packed with rich supplemental study portions throughout the text, including extensive biblical dictionaries, historical chronologies, concordance guides, and specialized commentaries designed for rigorous late-19th-century home study. Structurally, the text block is punctuated by dedicated visual sections, most notably "The Hofmann Gallery of New Testament Illustrations" and "The Thorvaldsen Gallery of Christ and His Apostles," which showcase beautiful master artwork alongside analytical commentary. The visual anchors of the interior are spectacular, headlined by a vibrant, multi-colored lithographic Marriage Certificate and multi-layered Family Portrait window mats, all of which remain completely blank. The text is illustrated throughout with detailed historical engravings and maps designed to bring the ancient world to life.

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.

Why This Bible Still Matters Today

In a time when digital media dominates, this 1896 Victorian Family Holy Bible reminds us of the power of physical books to connect us with history, faith, and family. Its detailed illustrations invite readers to slow down and reflect. It encourages us to appreciate the craftsmanship of the past and to consider how we preserve our own stories for future generations.

The Role of Book Archaeology in Preserving This Heritage

At Book Archaeology, these Bibles are not only religious texts but also historical artifacts that reveal much about the cultural and spiritual lives of the past. As Guardians of the Written Word, we understand that preserving such volumes requires careful attention to their physical condition and historical context. Book Archaeology helps keep alive the stories and traditions embedded in these sacred pages.

Price $645 | Purchase Page | See all

SKU: 92407

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