Carey Bible, First Edition
Carey Bible, First Edition
BIB.000185
Bible - Printed Book
1790
United States
English
Printed on Paper
10.3 × 8.8 × 3.3 in. (26.2 × 22.4 × 8.3 cm)
Not on View
The Carey Bible was the first Catholic Bible printed in the United States. Mathew Carey was born in Dublin and worked as a printer before immigrating to Philadelphia in 1784. Catholics made up only 1% of the population in the United States at this time and sometimes faced severe prejudice from their Protestant neighbors. Carey published his Bible in 1790, using the Douay-Rheims translation of the Latin Vulgate and with the support of over 400 subscribers. He intended it not only to support the Catholic community, but also combat Protestant claims that Catholics were indifferent to Bible study and the devotional life. This copy is a rare first edition.
Printed in 1790 by Carey, Stewart and Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Acquired by 1812 by John Lancaster, unknown location.[1] Acquired by 2010 by Christian Heritage Museum, Hagerstown, Maryland; Privately purchased in 2010 by Green Collection, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Donated in 2016 to National Christian Foundation (later The Signatry), under the curatorial care of Museum of the Bible, Washington, DC.
Notes: [1] John Lancaster inscribed his name, along with the date January 15, 1812, at the bottom of the title page as well as on the rear pastedown.
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