The Illuminated Bible

Harper’s Illuminated Bible was first published in 1846. This Bible is unique and beautiful in many ways. The floriated initials are each unique and quite elaborate. For example, the letter A has over 353 different engravings. Throughout the book there are 185 large illustrations, and there are over 1,400 wood engravings done by John Chapman, whose art is featured in the rotunda of the capitol building in Washington, D.C. As might be expected, this Bible was quite expensive to produce, so the publishers had to print it in fifty-four monthly installments. There are only one hundred complete sets known.