The Universal Family Bible; or Christians Divine Library. Containing The Sacred Text Of The Old And New Testament With The Apocrypha At Large
Printed For J. Cooke: London 1776 (New Testament 1777)
"This monumental two-volume folio edition of The Universal Family Bible; or, Christian's Divine Library (London: J. Cooke, 1776) stands as one of the grandest illustrated English Bibles of the eighteenth century. Edited and expanded by the Reverend Henry Southwell, L.L.D., it presents the complete Old and New Testaments together with the Apocrypha, accompanied by extensive theological, historical, practical, and explanatory notes. The work is richly embellished with one hundred copper-plate engravings (all present)—dramatic biblical scenes executed after original paintings by renowned artists such as Grignion, Walker, and Taylor—each set within elegant rococo ornamental borders. The folio scale, lavish production, and meticulous commentary reflect an era when family Bibles were both scholarly resources and treasured household displays of learning and faith.
The content reflects the Enlightenment-era desire to harmonise sacred scripture with reasoned commentary, offering corrections of mistranslations, explanations of difficult passages, and reflections aimed at strengthening the moral and devotional life of Christian households. Southwell's notes engage directly with questions of doctrine, language, and historical context, making this edition far more than a simple biblical reprint—it is a comprehensive Christian encyclopaedia intended for the education of literate families. The monumental format allows for unusually large type, wide margins, and generous placement of plates, which today makes the set visually impressive and highly desirable to collectors of early illustrated religious works.
The publication year of 1776 adds exceptional historical resonance. Issued during the very year of the American Declaration of Independence—a pivotal turning-point in Western political and intellectual history—this Bible reflects the world on the cusp of revolutionary change. While the United States was asserting political liberty, British presses were producing grand religious works that sought to preserve spiritual continuity amid upheaval. As a result, a 1776 family Bible represents not only a religious cornerstone but also a material survivor of a year synonymous with global transformation. For collectors, historians, and admirers of early engraved Bibles, this imposing 1776 folio set embodies both theological scholarship and the spirit of an age defined by profound cultural and political shifts."
