Bible Museums and Collections

[John of Japan]

It's been a little stressful for me here lately, and of course as always that's partly my fault. At any rate, rather than abandon this forum I thought I'd try to have a little fun.

All of you folks love your Bibles. Have you ever been to a Bible museum? If so, please share about it. We're talking old or unusual Bibles here, not just various study Bibles.

I've been to the one in Branson, Missouri, which I'll tell about first. In later days I'll tell about my own little collection. We've had it all laid out for church and for our pastors' fellowship, complete with labels in Japanese and English.

 

[John of Japan]

The museum in Branson was small but wonderful! They have some papyrus fragments, though fairly late so not vital for textual criticism. They have various old Bibles including one of only 11 copies of the "Wicked Bible." They have an old Hebrew OT mss. However, my favorite part of the tour was the full size replica Gutenberg press. They actually printed up some pages on it, and we were each allowed to take home a replica page of either a 1611 KJV or a Gutenberg. I chose the Gutenberg.

Check out some of what they have, or even visit them:

http://www.artcom.com/Museums/newones/65616-a.htm
Living Word National Bible Museum

3044 Shepherd of the Hills Expwy. #205-207
Branson, MO
Phone: 417-337-7047 - Tty: -

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

The Chester Beatty Collection

The website sadly downplays the amazing collection of early Bible manuscripts. Being in this room takes my breath away every time I am there.

Check out the links to see images of the papyri - and yes, they are on public display and the museum is free.

Anybody coming to Dublin ?

 

[John of Japan]

The Chester Beatty Collection

The website sadly downplays the amazing collection of early Bible manuscripts. Being in this room takes my breath away every time I am there.

Check out the links to see images of the papyri - and yes, they are on public display and the museum is free.

Anybody coming to Dublin ?

Man, I'd love to go there, Roger. It's a thrill just to look at the pictures on the website. Thanks!

My most treasured Bible is a pocket version of the Japanese Moto Yaku (Original Translation) New Testament. There was a NT published a year earlier, but this is the NT of the first complete Japanese Bible.

It's much younger than the Chester Beatty mss, but still old enough. I date it at about 1900, and it's pretty rare. I searched the used bookstores of Yokohama for four years before I finally found it. It was owned by someone named Motomura, but not read a whole lot. The interesting thing is that somewhere in the past it had an infestation of literal bookworms, so it has some tiny holes in the covers and some of the pages.

 

[4His_glory]

I have seen BJUs collection of antique Bibles. It is rather impressive. I own a couple of pages from old Bibles. One is a 1612 printing of a KJV, the other a page from the Geneva Bible. I can not remember the year but it predates the first printing of the KJV.

I would love to get a portion of an old Reina Valera. Its interesting that the Reina predates the first published Spanish grammar. It is said that the Reina Valera had influnce upon that first grammar.

 

[John of Japan]

I have seen BJUs collection of antique Bibles. It is rather impressive. I own a couple of pages from old Bibles. One is a 1612 printing of a KJV, the other a page from the Geneva Bible. I can not remember the year but it predates the first printing of the KJV.

We'll have to check out the BJU collection next furlough.

I would love to get a portion of an old Reina Valera. Its interesting that the Reina predates the first published Spanish grammar. It is said that the Reina Valera had influnce upon that first grammar.

Keep haunting those bookstores. But that would be several hundred years old, wouldn't it? There wouldn't be a reproduction out of it, would there?

I have a reproduction of the 1611 KJV, as I think a couple of others on the BB do. It's really interesting to have and look through once in awhile. I was told that Dr. Price at TTU once was walking down the halls with one when a student said, "Dr. Price, what is that?" He said, "It's a 1611 KJV." The awestruck student asked to see it--and then couldn't read it! You have to figure out those f's and s's, etc.

 

[franklinmonroe]

I have seen BJUs collection of antique Bibles...

Pensacola Christian College also has a collection located in one large room on the fifth floor of their campus library building. I've been there twice but couldn't stay as long as I would have liked either time.

The only other collection I've seen is The Scriptorium at The Holy Land Experience (now owned by Trinity Broadcasting) in Orlando about 6 years ago (before I became intensely interested in Bibles). It houses the Van Kampen collection.

 

[Logos1560]

collection of KJV editions

1611 edition of the KJV [facsimile digital reproduction in Gothic type]
1611 edition of the KJV [reprint in Roman type]
1672 edition of the KJV with Geneva Bible notes [two volume photocopy]

1769 Cambridge edition of the KJV
1777 Oxford edition of the KJV
1782 first American edition of the KJV [reprint]
1790 Cambridge edition of the KJV
1795 Oxford edition of the KJV
1804 Oxford edition of the KJV
1810 Oxford edition of the KJV
1812 Oxford edition of the KJV
1817 Cambridge edition of the KJV
1824 Cambridge edition of the KJV
1824 London edition of the KJV [Eyre and Strahan]
1828 Oxford edition of the KJV
1829 Oxford edition of the KJV
1833 Cambridge edition of the KJV
1835 Oxford edition of the KJV
1837 Cambridge edition of the KJV
1838 Oxford edition of the KJV
1840 Oxford edition of the KJV
1842 Cambridge edition of the KJV [two small volumes]
1842 Edinburgh edition of the KJV
1843 American Bible Society edition of the KJV
1844 Cambridge edition of the KJV
1847 Oxford edition of the KJV
1850 Oxford edition of the KJV
1851 Edinburgh edition of the KJV
1853 American Bible Society edition of the KJV [unique edition]
1857 Oxford edition of the KJV
1859 Oxford edition of the KJV
1860 London edition of the KJV [Eyre and Spottiswoode]
1865 Oxford edition of the KJV
1865 Cambridge edition of the KJV
1868 Oxford edition of the KJV
1869 Cambridge edition of the KJV
1870 Oxford edition of the KJV
1872 Cambridge edition of the KJV
1873 Cambridge edition of the KJV edited by Scrivener [Zondervan reprint]
1876 Oxford edition of the KJV
1880 Oxford edition of the KJV
1885 Oxford edition of the KJV
1887 Cambridge edition of the KJV

2005 Cambridge edition of the KJV edited by David Norton

1841 London edition of the KJV with many thousand emendations
1842 edition or revision of the KJV by Baptists and others
1869 London edition of KJV’s N. T. with marginal notes from Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, Alexandrinus

 

[Mexdeaf]

There is a Bible museum in London run by a missionary from the BBFI. His name is David Smith. I did a Google and this is all I could find on it- (info is a bit dated)

"A Baptist preacher in London is David Smith (American), who pastors a church there, and his e-mail is: rev@antiquarian.com

He is a "collector" of Christian artifacts and memorabilia and I understand he has a museum. You might like to contact him and get directions to his church. His father is Jewell Smith, of Orlando, Florida, who owns a vast collection of old Bibles and does speaking tours in the USA, lecturing on Bible history, etc."



David's father Jewell passed away some years ago and I believe that the collection is now in David's hands in London but I am not 100% certain of that fact.
​

 

[abcgrad94]

Wow, I never knew there was such a thing as a Bible museum until this thread. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[Amy.G]

Several years ago we went to THIS EXHIBIT.

It was really wonderful. One of my favorite bibles was a small one that was handwritten for a very wealthy young girl in the 1700's I think. The printing was so perfect and beautiful and it was filled with beautiful artwork.

 

[Amy.G]

See what Judas was paid with to betray Christ.

This is part of the Ink and Blood Exhibit.

 

[John of Japan]

1611 edition of the KJV [facsimile digital reproduction in Gothic type]
1611 edition of the KJV [reprint in Roman type]
1672 edition of the KJV with Geneva Bible notes [two volume photocopy]

1769 Cambridge edition of the KJV
1777 Oxford edition of the KJV
1782 first American edition of the KJV [reprint]
1790 Cambridge edition of the KJV
1795 Oxford edition of the KJV
1804 Oxford edition of the KJV
1810 Oxford edition of the KJV
1812 Oxford edition of the KJV
1817 Cambridge edition of the KJV
1824 Cambridge edition of the KJV
1824 London edition of the KJV [Eyre and Strahan]
1828 Oxford edition of the KJV
1829 Oxford edition of the KJV
1833 Cambridge edition of the KJV
1835 Oxford edition of the KJV
1837 Cambridge edition of the KJV
1838 Oxford edition of the KJV
1840 Oxford edition of the KJV
1842 Cambridge edition of the KJV [two small volumes]
1842 Edinburgh edition of the KJV
1843 American Bible Society edition of the KJV
1844 Cambridge edition of the KJV
1847 Oxford edition of the KJV
1850 Oxford edition of the KJV
1851 Edinburgh edition of the KJV
1853 American Bible Society edition of the KJV [unique edition]
1857 Oxford edition of the KJV
1859 Oxford edition of the KJV
1860 London edition of the KJV [Eyre and Spottiswoode]
1865 Oxford edition of the KJV
1865 Cambridge edition of the KJV
1868 Oxford edition of the KJV
1869 Cambridge edition of the KJV
1870 Oxford edition of the KJV
1872 Cambridge edition of the KJV
1873 Cambridge edition of the KJV edited by Scrivener [Zondervan reprint]
1876 Oxford edition of the KJV
1880 Oxford edition of the KJV
1885 Oxford edition of the KJV
1887 Cambridge edition of the KJV

2005 Cambridge edition of the KJV edited by David Norton

1841 London edition of the KJV with many thousand emendations
1842 edition or revision of the KJV by Baptists and others
1869 London edition of KJV’s N. T. with marginal notes from Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, Alexandrinus

Wow, Logos1560, is this your collection? Incredible!

 

[John of Japan]

Pensacola Christian College also has a collection located in one large room on the fifth floor of their campus library building. I've been there twice but couldn't stay as long as I would have liked either time.

The only other collection I've seen is The Scriptorium at The Holy Land Experience (now owned by Trinity Broadcasting) in Orlando about 6 years ago (before I became intensely interested in Bibles). It houses the Van Kampen collection.

Thank you. Two more I'll have to add to the list to see on our next furlough!

 

[John of Japan]

Several years ago we went to THIS EXHIBIT.

It was really wonderful. One of my favorite bibles was a small one that was handwritten for a very wealthy young girl in the 1700's I think. The printing was so perfect and beautiful and it was filled with beautiful artwork.

Hey great, this one is in Nashville. Our home church is in Tennessee, so this one should be easy to check out for us. Thanks, Amy!

 

[John of Japan]

I have another old Japanese Bible that I enjoy. It's a Bungoyaku (Classical Translation) printed by the American Bible Society in Tokyo in year 3 of the Emperor Taisho (1914). It's in pretty good shape considering the age, with only a little water damage on the cover. :type:

Historical note: Emperor Taisho was said to be mentally ill. He once rolled up a proclamation and looked through it at the people kneeling worshipping him as a god. (The peasants were not allowed to even look upon him.) He ended up with a short reign of only 14 years. It's said that he was assasinated by members of the Imperial Household who were tired of his undignified antics.

 

[PilgrimPastor]

Check out some of what they have, or even visit them:

http://www.artcom.com/Museums/newones/65616-a.htm
Living Word National Bible Museum

3044 Shepherd of the Hills Expwy. #205-207
Branson, MO
Phone: 417-337-7047 - Tty: -

My wife and I are planning a trip to "Silver Dollar City" resort in Branson this summer. I have never been there but have heard it is nice. Do you know if this museum is nearby? Certainly it can't be all that far away. Perhaps I will enjoy a trip to the Bible museum when the wife and boys are at the water park! :thumbs:

 

[John of Japan]

My wife and I are planning a trip to "Silver Dollar City" resort in Branson this summer. I have never been there but have heard it is nice. Do you know if this museum is nearby? Certainly it can't be all that far away. Perhaps I will enjoy a trip to the Bible museum when the wife and boys are at the water park! :thumbs:

As I recall, the Bible museum was in a strip mall, but this was in 2002 I believe so I don't remember much about where. Branson's not that big--just lots of shows and stuff--so you shouldn't have much trouble finding it. Just look for a leaflet in the lobby of your motel, and it should have a map.

You'll have a great time! :wavey:

 

[franklinmonroe]

... It's said that he was assasinated by members of the Imperial Household who were tired of his undignified antics. ...

Murder being such a dignified act in itself?!

 

[Logos1560]

Wow, Logos1560, is this your collection?

Yes, it is most of my collection of KJV editions. I also have several reprint or facsimile editions of the pre-1611 English Bibles, Luther's German Bible, a couple old Spanish Bibles, and a good number of later English translations.

The Gospels: Gothic, Anglo-Saxon, Wycliffe, and Tyndale
Lindisfarne and Rushworth Gospels: Latin with Anglo-Saxon
West Saxon Gospels [Anglo-Saxon around 900 A. D.]
1395 Wycliffe Bible
1388 Wycliffe New Testament in modern spelling [W. R. Cooper]
Wycliffe’s New Testament in modern spelling [Stephen Westcott]
Greek New Testament edited by Erasmus and Latin translation by Erasmus
Luther’s 1534 German Bible [facsimile]
1569 Spanish Bible by Casiodoro de Reina [facsimile]
1602 Spanish Bible by Valera [facsimile]

1526 edition of Tyndale’s New Testament in modern spelling
1534 edition of Tyndale’s New Testament in modern spelling [David Daniell]
Tyndale’s Old Testament in modern spelling [David Daniell]
1535 Coverdale’s New Testament [text reprint in modern type but old spelling]
1535 Coverdale’s Bible [text reprint in modern type but old spelling]
1535 Modern Spelling Tyndale/Coverdale Bible [actually a combination of
renderings from 1535 Coverdale's with Tyndale's and some renderings
from the Great Bible and Bishops' Bible]
1537 Matthew’s Bible New Testament in modern spelling
1538 Latin-English New Testament by Miles Coverdale
1540 edition of Great Bible [text reprint in modern type but old spelling]
1549 edition of Matthew’s Bible [facsimile]
1550 Gospel of Matthew translated by Sir John Cheke [reprint]
1557 Whittingham’s New Testament [facsimile reprint in two volumes]
1557 Whittingham’s New Testament in modern spelling
1548 Paraphrase of Erasmus on N. T. translated into English [Matthew-Acts]
1560 edition of Geneva Bible [facsimile]
1560 edition of Geneva Bible [photocopy]
1568 edition of Bishops’ Bible [text reprint in modern type but old spelling]
1595 edition of Bishops’ Bible [photocopy]
1599 edition of Geneva Bible [facsimile]
1599 edition of Geneva Bible in modern spelling
1602 edition of Geneva Bible N. T.