The Exploring Family History Tutorial
Researching the "Lewin" Bible
Dating the Bible
When the bible was printed there was no date of printing included and it is worth looking at the various ways it can be dated. In dong so I made extensive use of google to search for information, and also a number of the web sites mentioned in Locating Books.
Style and Form: I do not claim to have any great skill on dating early books by style, but two features spring to mind. The typeface includes the old "f" style "s" suggesting 18th century or earlier, while the steel engraved plates suggest it is not much earlier than 1800.
Checking Library Copies: The British Library catalogue lists a copy which it dates about 1790, while other copies have similar estimated dates between 1780 and 1790.
The Author, Thomas Bankes: He was the Vicar of Dixton, in Monmouthshire,. In 1790 he published an extensive Geography of the World, including plates based of Captain Cook's discoveries. It is unlikely that he was involved in both projects simultaneously - suggests a somewhat earlier date for the bible.
The Dedication to Lord James Beauclerc: James Beauclerc was Lord Bishop of Hereford and would have been Bankes's bishop while he was at Dixton. He died in 1788, suggesting that the bible title page was printed before that date.
The Publisher: A google search shows that a number of publications were produced by J(ohn) Cooke, of (17) Paternoster Row, followed by his son C(harles) Cooke, and later Thomas Kelly at the same address. John Cooke was operating up to at least 1785, while Charles Cooke was operating by 1791. This copy is definitely produced by J. Cooke, although a later copy (see www.islandregister.com/bibles/johncummings1802.html) appears to have been printed by C. Cooke. (A relevant reference work, The London book trades of the later 18th century, has been produced by the Devon Libraries Local Studies Service, and can be found on www.devon.gov.uk.)
On the above evidence it would appear that the bible was published between about 1785 and 1790, and it may well be that it was purchased in 1789 and John Lewin added the text to the new bible.
Page created November 2005