1772 OSTERVALD BIBLE
Published in Parts

The Old and New Testament of our Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST: with arguments prefixed to the different books; And moral and theological Observations at the end of every chapter. Composed by The Reverend Mr. Ostervald, Professor of Divinity, and one of the Ministers of the church at Neuschatel in Swisserland. Translated at the desire of, and recommended by The Society for propagating Christian Knowledge. GLASGOW: Printed and sold by Joseph Galbreath, M.DCC.LXXII. [1772]

Also includes the Apocrypha: GLASGOW: Printed by John Robertson, Saltmarket, MDCCLXXIV. [1774]with signature by James Greenlaw dated July 12, 1775.

The Bible text measures 230 X 155 mm (not including margin notes. Overall size is 10"x8"x3". The Bible is bound from parts printed prior to publication. Each part consists of 64 pages made up of eight 8-page signatures, with each signature marked with part number and signature letter.

The Old Testament is made up of 11 full parts and part of number 12. Each part begins with [J,V,W are omitted in all signatures]:

  • Number 1 signature A
  • Number 2 signature I [No J]
  • Number 3 signature R
  • Number 4 signature BB [No V,W]
  • Number 5 signature KK [No JJ]
  • Number 6 signature Sf [all s's are written with old style f in this Bible]
  • Number 7 signature CCC [No VV,WW]
  • Number 8 signature LLL
  • Number 9 signature TTT [No VVV,WWW]
  • Number 10 signature DDDD
  • Number 11 MMMM
  • Number 12 UUUU
  • Old Testament ends with Number 12 part number YYYY
The publisher has separated the parts and inserted the Apocrypha published [1774] another time and by another publisher. Signatures for the Apocrypha are A-T and do not include part numbers.

The New Testament begins with part Number 12 signature A. Number 13 begins with H. Nyumber 14 begins with O and part number 15 begins with number Y and ends with FF.

At the end of the Bible text begins other sections not printed as parts. They include:

  • Table of Conditions, 1 page
  • Index - 17 pages
  • Kidred, 1 page
  • Psalms of David in Metre, 40 pages
  • Paraphrases, 10 pages

The Psalms of David in Metre was printed separate from these parts and is stated EDINBURG: printed by Sir D. Hunter Blair and J Bruce, printers to the King's most Excellent Majesty, 1811.

Sir David Hunter Blair succeeded Sir James Hunter Blair's patent as King's printer for Scotland - from Kincaid's patent in July 1798. He and Bruce were the Majesty's printers from 1800-1839.

My question is who is Joseph Galbreath printer because Alexander Kincaid was the King's printer for Scotland in 1772. Was the fact they were printed in parts okay with the King's printer?

The Apocrypha was printed in the Saltmarket. which is an area of Glasgow and a centre of the cheap print trade, for chapbooks, speeches, religious tracts and slips.The leading Saltmarket printer was J & M Robertson. Another question is did the Apocrypha fall under a chapbook or slip to allow the printer to get past the King's printer rules of Scotland?

The last question I have is if the parts were printed without King's printer permission why did the King's printer (after Kincaid) Blair and Bruce include the parts from Galbreath in their Bible.

Or, did someone in America put together this Bible from Robertson's Apocrypha, Galbreath's parts and Blair/Bruce's Psalms of David?

Condition: 231 years of age on cheap paper. Front cover is detached. Lacking Old Testament title page and first few pages from Genesis 1:1 to Genesis 13:11.