GIANT CLEARANCE SALE!!! EVERYTHING MUST GO!   SEE MY OTHER ITEMS OR YOULL BE SORRY! CLICK BELOW, SOME ARE ENDING SOON! http://stores.ebay.com/THE-WORD-Antiquarian-Books       ASTRONOMICALLY RARE & SCARCE 1776 COLONIAL AMERICAN "GUN WAD" HOLY BIBLE PRINTED IN GERMANTOWN PENNSYLVANIA DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR! THESE RARE HOLY BIBLES WERE CAPTURED BY BRITISH SOLDIERS WHO TORE OUT AND USED THE PAGES FROM THEM FOR "GUN WADDING" FOR THEIR BLACK POWDER GUNS AND CANNONS! IT IS SAID THAT ONLY 10 SURVIVED! !!! SCROLL WAY DOWN TO MANY PICTURES !!! "BIBLIA, DAS IST: DIE GANZE GOTTLICHE HEILIGE SCHRIFT" (Colonial American Holy Bible in German) Printed in Germantown, Pennsylvania by Christopher Saur, 1776.  Contains both the Old and New Testaments plus the Apocrypha. Measures 10.5" x 8.5" Professionally bound and restored in Lancaster PA, with a full calf leather  binding over the original oak boards, raised bands as original, two brass clasps handcrafted in Germany, new headbands, and interior restoration when needed. The blank end papers and blank flyleaves have been replaced with toned rag paper (cotton, as are the original blanks). An original General Title Page and forward from an identical damaged Bible were remargined for this Bible.  The text along the front edge of the forward has been restored.  There is typical foxing throughout, and damp stains, especially toward the front and the back of the Bible.  The main area of Biblical text including the New Testament Title Page is very nice. This Rare "Gun Wad" Colonial American Holy Bible is 100% Complete!  This scarce 1776 "Gun Wad Bible" is a nice example of one of America's most historic Bibles!   Christopher Sower Jr., who printed this Bible, was an elder in the Germantown Pennsylvania congregation of the Brethren Church, which was organized in 1708 in Germany. The Brethren Church is celebrating their 300th anniversary this year. There is much interest among the Brethren in the Christopher Sowers and their Bibles. Six denominations descended from the Brethren Church organized in 1708. They are The Church of the Brethren, The Grace Brethren Church, The Brethren Church (Ashland), The Old German Baptist Brethren, The Dunkard Brethren, and The Conservative Grace Brethren Church. This Sower Bible would be a great display item in any of these churches, as they display items from their past history as they celebrate their 300th anniversary of the Brethren Church. Christoph Saur Sr. (1693–1758), working in Germantown, Pennsylvania, printed the first European language Bible in America in 1743. Using traditional "Fraktur" type obtained from the Luther Foundry of Frankfurt, Germany, he produced an edition of 1,200 copies of Martin Luther's German Bible. Although ministers of the German Lutheran Church of Pennsylvania and the German Reformed Church at Lancaster leveled attacks at Saur's Bible, there was enough demand for a second edition that Christoph Saur II (1721–1784) printed a second edition of 2,000 copies in 1763 – the first Bible printed in America on American-made paper. The third Saur Bible, printed in 1776, was the first Bible printed from American-made type, manufactured by Justus Fox at the Saur type foundry in Germantown. The Gun-Wad Bible is considered a rare Bible because it was printed just prior to the battle of Germantown Pennsylvania during the Revolution. Saur had originally produced 3000 copies of this 1776 edition, but the vast majority of them were destroyed by the occupying British soldiers who used the pages for firewood and horse bedding, but primarily as cartridge paper or "gun-wadding." According to contemporary accounts, all of the Bibles of this edition were destroyed, with the exception of 10 copies said to have been saved by Saur's daughter Catherine. While this number has never been confirmed, it is unquestionable that the surviving copies numbered as few. In Colonial America before the Revolutionary War, the not yet formed "United States" was still under British rule. Due to the restrictive terms of the Bible Patent in England, and English law designed to keep an accurate text and produce revenue for the sovereign, the printing of Bibles in [english] was forbidden in the American Colonies and was restricted to Oxford and Cambridge Universities in England, the sovereign's (King or Queen) printer, and sometimes to the Stationers' Company. This law applied to all English territories, so printers in the American Colonies were not allowed to print the Bible in English. Thus the earliest printed biblical texts in America were not in English.     TERMS: PAYPAL. Insurance is available up to $5,000 for Priority Mail and up to $25,000 for Registered Mail in the United States only. All Items must have Insurance paid for by the buyer. All funds must be paid within 7 days. Insurance claims are the responsibility of the buyer and copies of insurance slips will be provided upon request. We are not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged items. This is a Born Again Christian business and I strive to honor Christ in every transaction. I am happy to answer any question you may have and Items may be returned within 7 days if significantly not as described. God Bless You and thank you for viewing these many blessings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.   SEE MY OTHER ITEMS OR YOULL BE SORRY! CLICK BELOW, SOME ARE ENDING SOON! http://stores.ebay.com/THE-WORD-Antiquarian-Books     MANY MANY PICTURES . . KEEP SCROLLING DOWN . . .

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