Written In English
This volume is Brown’s Dictionary of the Holy Bible, authored by Rev. John Brown and published in 1846 by Thomas Tegg of London. The full title provides a clear picture of the book’s contents: it’s an in-depth historical, geographical, critical, and theological reference that provides explanations of biblical people, places, terms, and objects, both from the Old and New Testaments. These dictionaries were often considered essential companion pieces for family Bibles, scholars, and ministers, serving as a bridge between scripture and deeper study during the 19th century.
Rev. John Brown of Haddington was a Scottish theologian and minister in the 18th century, and this dictionary was compiled posthumously based on his life’s study. Brown was passionate about making religious knowledge accessible—especially to laypeople and ministers without formal theological training. This book was written to provide concise, scholarly, and readable entries for anyone who wanted to better understand scripture—particularly in an era where personal and family Bible study was central to spiritual life. By the mid-1800s, such dictionaries were staples in educated Victorian households and theological libraries.
The binding of this copy is particularly appealing. It features a half calf binding with marbled paper boards, likely a custom or upgraded binding from the original plain cloth. The spine is polished calf leather with blind tooling, gilt banding, and a burgundy morocco title label stamped “Brown’s Dictionary.” The marbled boards are done in a rich, diagonally rippled green, paired with tidy gilt detailing at the leather-paper edge junction. This was likely a well-kept personal or academic reference volume, designed for both durability and visual elegance.
Condition:
In terms of condition, this copy is in very good antique condition. The leather shows light rubbing at the joints, spine ends, and corners, with minor scuffing from shelf wear. The gilt remains strong and clean. The marbled paper boards are still vibrant with just a few light marks and scattered wear. The binding is sturdy and square. Internally, the book opens cleanly to a beautifully preserved engraved frontispiece featuring a dramatic biblical scene, with only mild foxing and some toning to the margins of the title page and prelims. There are no major tears, writing, or water damage—only light signs of age consistent with a volume of this period.
