Catalog of Bibles – A Comprehensive Guide for Collectors

This book is subtitled: A Classified Bibliography of Versions, and Editions Including Books, Parts, and Old and New Testament Apocrypha and Apocryphal Books. The last attempt to catalogue the English Bible was in turn a revision and expansion of the edition of Darlow and Moule in 1903 and was that of A. S. Herbert published in 1968 jointly by the British & Foreign and the American Bible Societies.

Any attempt to compile a comprehensive bibliography of a book printed in as many editions and in as large editions as the Bible is a courageous endeavor and a massive undertaking. To dare to attempt to improve upon the efforts of bibliographers who are recognized widely for their expertise is either foolhardy or done by one willing to take a high risk because he staunchly believes he can improve on the work of his predecessors. The estimate of his contemporaries is now awaited by this author who has dared to put his conviction “on the line.” Compiler Chamberlin was in the process of gathering the information for this book for 23 years. He, along with Herbert before him, has expressed his awareness that a work of this kind cannot be effectively done by one person, however much he must accept final responsibility. Both benefitted from the work of Margaret T. Hills, late librarian of the American Bible Society, for her attempt to include all English editions of the Bible published in the New World in her bibliography published in 1962.

Chamberlin’s work is more comprehensive than any previous bibliography for several reasons: 1. Previous attempts have depended upon notable libraries while Chamberlin has utilized also private libraries and collections; and 2. Herbert and Hills have included only the entire Bible, either Testament, or a major portion while Chamberlin has included smaller portions also. He has given special attention also to recording all revisions and reprintings. This is to be noted in addition to the fact that he has included the Apocrypha of both Testaments as well, something no previous bibliographer has done.

Chamberlin has also included many valuable annotations but has said in a private letter to this reviewer that he had to delete “many, many things” due to the space limitations of the publisher.