Scarce 1798 American-printed New Testament, published in New Haven, Connecticut by Edward O’Brien, with distribution through New York bookseller David Dunham.

Title: The New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Newly Translated out of the Original Greek: and with the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised. Appointed to be Read in Churches.

Imprint:
New-Haven: Printed and Sold by Edward O’Brien; Also, Sold Wholesale and Retail by David Dunham, New York. MDCCXCVIII [1798].

A desirable late-18th-century American Bible printing from the early New Haven press of Edward O’Brien.

The volume runs through the Book of Revelation and concludes with the printed “FINIS.” The text is substantially complete; however, there is one significant textual defect that must be noted: approximately the upper fifth of a leaf in Luke, Chapter II has been torn away, resulting in loss of a portion of the printed text on that leaf. Please examine the photographs carefully.

Early Ownership

The volume bears an early ownership inscription for:

Hiram Mansfield — 1827

This adds an appealing early-American provenance element to the book, dating the documented ownership to less than thirty years after publication.

Bibliographical / Historical Interest

Edward O’Brien was an early New Haven printer active during the final years of the eighteenth century. This edition was both printed and sold by O’Brien in New Haven and additionally distributed wholesale and retail by David Dunham of New York, illustrating the regional book trade between Connecticut and New York in the early American republic.

Original American Bibles and New Testaments from the 1790s are considerably scarcer than their nineteenth-century counterparts, particularly when the original title page and concluding text survive.

Condition

Fair minus.

The volume shows substantial age and use consistent with a more than 225-year-old devotional book, including binding wear, rubbing, staining/toning, handling wear and other imperfections.

Most importantly:

• Title page present
• Text continues through Revelation
• Final “FINIS” present
• Upper approximately one-fifth of one leaf in Luke Chapter II is torn away, with corresponding text loss
• Early “Hiram Mansfield 1827 Northfield CT” ownership inscription
• Additional condition details should be judged from the photographs

Because of the loss in Luke II, this copy is being described as defective rather than fully complete, despite retaining the remainder of the New Testament through its proper conclusion.

An uncommon 1798 New Haven American New Testament with attractive early Connecticut printing interest and documented 1827 ownership.