Harvard Divinity School returns rare Hebrew Bible to Adrian College library
Posted Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Author: Mickey Alvarado
One of the first few thousand books added to Adrian College’s library — possibly delivered by oxcart to Adrian by the founder of the institution, Asa Mahan, and his followers — was recently returned after sitting for years in the archives of the Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The rare two-volume Bible is in fragile condition but will be displayed behind glass in Adrian College’s Shipman Library through March. After that, they will be stored in the library archives, joining countless other pieces in Adrian College’s extensive historical collection.
“It’s within the realm of possibility that this Bible belonged to Asa Mahan, but I don’t know that for a fact, and there is no way to prove it,” said Adrian College Head Librarian David Cruse.
The Bible was discovered by a Harvard Divinity School librarian while processing old donations that had been in storage. She had no idea when the books arrived in Cambridge. The bookplate lists the Bible as number 2,145 in Adrian College’s library, so she reached out to see if she could return it.
Bound in contemporary calf, the Bible is the first complete Hebrew Bible (Biblia Hebraica) published in America, in 1814 by Philadelphia publisher Thomas Dobson, and is considered very valuable by book collectors.
“It is important work to theologians, bibliophiles, and particularly collectors of Judaica,” Cruse said. “This Bible was primarily created for scholars and Christian theologians interested in the Hebrew origins of the Old Testament — individuals such as Asa Mahan. They were deeply concerned with translation accuracy, carefully analyzing the original meaning.”
Sotheby’s, one of the world’s largest brokers of fine and decorative art, jewelry, and collectibles, has listed one of the Hebrew Bible sets for auction in the past, estimating its value at $10,000 to $15,000, noting, “When Jonathan Horwitz, a young devout Jew, arrived in America in the early 19th century, he brought with him a complete font of Hebrew type. In 1812, Horwitz proposed the publication of an edition of the Hebrew Bible using his precious type, but soon discovered that he was not alone in his desire to produce such a Bible for the American market… In early 1813, in the face of stiff competition, Horwitz sold the Hebrew type to William Fry and transferred his right to publish, and the subscription lists, to Philadelphia publisher Thomas Dobson.”
“Being written in Hebrew, they are not likely to be used often, if ever,” Cruse said. “But the book is an interesting and valuable addition to our collection, nonetheless.”
For more information about Adrian College’s Library, visit shipmanlibrary.stacksdiscovery.com.
