Condit Bible: Background

We're still learning more about the Condit Bible's journey from its acquisition in the 1800s to present day. We will update this page as we confirm more. 

Another bible, very similar in appearance, was auctioned with the following notes:

1870's illustrated explanatory family Bible. Large quarto. Illustrated with several frontispiece plates by Gustave Doré (and additional full page Doré plates throughout the text). Over 700 illustrations and maps total. Published jointly by The National Publishing Company and Jones Brothers & Co; a classic example of massive, heavily ornamented Victorian subscription publishing. 

Key Features

• Format & Size: Large quarto measuring roughly 12 1/2"H x 10 1/2"W x 3 1/2"D, typically bound in heavy, blind-and-gilt-tooled embossed leather with gilt edges and sometimes brass clasps.

• Illustrations: Features dramatic woodcut and steel-engraved plates by renowned French artist Gustave Doré alongside hundreds of other text engravings and maps.

• Supplementary Content: Designed as an all-in-one "library unto itself," these editions commonly included a biblical dictionary, history of religious denominations, family marriage and birth record registries, and extensive commentaries. A chronological index, concise harmony of the gospels, and a Biblical Cyclopedia could be bound in as well.

• Illustrator: Gustave Doré (1832-1883) produced hundreds of woodcuts illustrating numerous Bible scenes. His Biblical illustrations were first published in France in 1865 and became extremely popular in Europe and America. Cassell published a large folio Bible set with the complete series of  238 Gustave Dore illustrations.

• Weight: By the 1880s the large family Bible "library" might weigh up to 18 pounds!