1763 German Bible Published in Germantown, PA by Christoph Sauer II

Item: Bible

Year: 1763

Publisher: Chirstoph Sauer II (Germantown, PA)

Language: German

Construction:  American-Made Paper, Wood, Leather, Jute Cord, Brass

Dimensions:  10 1/8" Tall x 8 3/8" Wide x 3 7/8" Thick

Condition: Very good antique condition. Straps and closure clasps missing. Some deterioration of leather, particularly around edges. Spine intact. Very minor darkening and foxing of paper.  End flyleaf possibly missing. Please see photos. 

Details: Large leather bound bible with beveled wood front and back covers and five raised bands on spine. Both covers and spine are still covered with dark brown  leather.  Remnants of leather straps and the closure hardware are still visible on the long edges of the covers.  At edges of the spine, the jute cord forming the bands and holding the covers together are visible. There is a small scar/loss of leather on the bottom edge of the front cover. Vestiges of embossed decoration still visible on leather cover. Front flyleaves intact, as well as last page with printer's mark. Some darkening of paper and foxing of page edges.

This is the second edition of the first European-language Bible published in the American colonies after a 17th century Indian Bible.  It is also the first Bible printed on American - made paper.  

Johann Christoph Sauer emigrated to Philadelphia from Wittgenstein, Germany in 1724 and settled in Germantown, now a part of Philadelphia. He set aside his trade of tailoring and established a business making clocks and repairing pots and pans. By 1738, he had begun printing, and eventually produced the most widely read German newspaper of the time, in addition to a number of religious works. He built his own press, and imported the first German type. In 1743, he published the first German Bible in the colonies.  Twenty years later, his son, Johann Christoph Sauer II published the second edition, this being the first bible printed on American-made paper.

Included is a piece of ephemera, a hand written note, and an old peacock feather that were tucked between the pages. The handwritten note appears to document the birth and death of a loved one with 18th century dates, likely belonging to bible's original owner.