Robert Aitken

The Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC has more than six hundred Bibles in its collection. One Bible on display is a rare 1872 Aitken’s Bible, sometimes called Congress’ Bible. Less than thirty copies are still in existence. Although Robert Aitken’s (1734-1802) Bible took a substantial financial loss in its printing, it earned a place in history as the first all-American Bible. Robert emigrated from Scotland to Philadelphia in 1769. This devout Presbyterian earned his keep as proprietor of a bookstore and printing business. When America placed an embargo on goods from Britain before the Revolutionary War, the supply of Bibles was promptly cut off. Clergy wrote to Congress, alarmed that America would soon run out of Bibles. To complicate matters, it was considered illegal to print Bibles in America due to England’s royal license of the King James Bible. Robert, who had already printed the New Testament at his own expense for use in schools, appealed to Congress to authorize his printing of more Bibles, urging lawmakers “not to neglect spiritual security while they are vigorously contending for temporal blessings.” His novel 4×6 inch Bible design made it ideal to carry in coat pockets. Congress passed the overture in 1781, “Resolved that the United States Congress assembled highly approves of the pious and laudatory undertaking of Mr. Aitken.” After the war, competition from local print shops and overseas publishers added to his losses. After Robert died in 1802, his daughter Jane inherited the business with its considerable debt, landing her in debtor’s prison.
Prayer and the Bible go hand in hand. In the words of St. Jerome, “When we pray, we talk to God; when we read the Bible, God talks to us.” We join in a 1549 prayer by Veit Dietrich: