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The Bible Collection: A Resource Guide from the Rare Book and Special Collections Division

Collection Materials

The Library of Congress has a wealth of print materials relating to the Bible as a literary and historical artifact in addition to many different imprints of the text itself. Material pertaining to the study of the Bible is available in both the general collections and the special collections of the Rare Book & Special Collections Division but is most concentrated in the Bible Collection. Relevant electronic resources and digitized materials can be found in the Digital Resources section of this guide.

Bible. English. 1793. Trenton : Printed and sold by Isaac Collins, 1793. Library of Congress Rare Book and Special Collections Division

Ownership Marks & Family Records

“The Bible, however, is a text which crosses extraordinary frontiers, back and forth across the centuries.”
— Christopher De Hamel, The Book. A History of the Bible.


The Rare Book & Special Collections Division has numerous examples of Bibles that contain handwritten marks, ownership stamps, or bookplates left by former owners. Some copies contain handwritten annotations, family information, or dedications when presented as a gift. The selection below represents only a few examples of books in the Bible Collection with ownership markings that provide information about the book's material and contextual history.


The following titles link to fuller bibliographic information in the Library of Congress Online Catalog. Links to additional online content are included when available.

Bible. Latin. Vulgate. 1540. Library of Congress Rare Book and Special Collections Division.

Examples of Book Illustration in Biblical Imprints

Various techniques were used over the centuries to add images to biblical texts. Not every image within a bible can be properly called an "illustration." The medieval manuscript tradition, for example, while highly visual, did not always employ visual elements that directly related to corresponding text. Historically, visual elements in biblical texts were not always didactic; however, the examples in the list below were chosen because of their illustrative character, as patrons often ask to see picture books that do correspond to familiar biblical passages.


The following titles link to fuller bibliographic information in the Library of Congress Online Catalog. Links to additional online content are included when available.

Bible. English. Authorized..Cambridge [Cambridgeshire] : Printed by John Field ..., 1668. Library of Congress Rare Book and Special Collections Division.

Printing Vernacular Bibles

“Within a century of Johann Gutenberg's invention of movable type, the printed Bible reached countless thousands of people who had never before owned or even turned the pages of any book. It was read fervidly and universally, and it became an intimate possession of daily lives.”
— Christopher De Hamel, The Book. A History of the Bible

The Rare Book and Special Collections Division has many examples of Bibles that have been printed in various languages; however, patrons should be aware that the Area Studies Divisions at the Library of Congress have material in non-Western languages. The African and Middle Eastern Division has enormous resources pertaining to the history of the Bible, including Hebraic collections and materials relating to prayer traditions in several different faiths. More information these resources can be found in this blog post. Researchers interested in biblical materials in Asian languages will want to contact reference staff in the Asian Division.


The following titles link to fuller bibliographic information in the Library of Congress Online Catalog. Links to additional online content are included when available.

The Monotessaron; or, The Gospel history, according to the four evangelists... Baltimore: the author, 1829. Toner Collection. Library of Congress Rare Book and Special Collections Division.

Printing the Bible in North America

The Library of Congress has one of the strongest collections of early North American imprints in the world. With more than 16,990 titles in the American Imprint Collection alone, researchers interested in studying printing in America have many resources. When combined with the electronic resources available through specialized full-text databases, the Library of Congress is one of the best places to research early American printing. Patrons wanting to learn more about these resources and how to use them are encouraged to contact the reference staff in the Rare Book and Special Collections Division for a research orientation.


The following titles link to fuller bibliographic information in the Library of Congress Online Catalog. Links to additional online content are included when available.