1729 Scottish King James Bible — Family Records

1729 King James Bible with 18th-Century Scottish Family Records

John Mosman & William Brown • Edinburgh, Scotland • 1729

King James Version • Scottish Family Records, 1762–1774

A Bible Preserved Through Generations

This remarkable 1729 Scottish printing of the King James Version Holy Bible was issued in Edinburgh by the royal printing partnership of John Mosman and William Brown.

Beyond its early 18th-century printing history, the volume preserves an especially meaningful record of later Scottish ownership. Handwritten family records associated with the John Anderson family document baptisms and other family events dating from approximately 1762 through 1774, recording the lives of a family who used and preserved this Bible more than three decades after it was printed.

The handwritten material appears in several areas of the volume and includes family records, examples of script practice, and occasional doodles. These additions provide an intimate glimpse into the personal history surrounding the Bible and demonstrate how the volume continued to be used and marked by its owners over time.

Completeness & Readability

The Bible is 100% complete, and the printed text throughout the volume remains readable.

The handwritten family records remain preserved within the original volume and form an important part of its historical character.

Condition

The Bible exhibits substantial age-related wear and structural deterioration consistent with its nearly three centuries of history and use.

The front and rear covers are fully detached, as is the first blank leaf.

The main title page appears to have received an earlier repair. The dedication leaf also appears to have been repaired and has a missing portion.

There is foxing throughout the volume, Yellowed toning is also present, with some sections exhibiting heavier discoloration.

Approximately eight pages toward the latter portion of the Old Testament have brittle outer edges.

There is also light moisture staining in various areas toward the end of the Old Testament and into the beginning of the New Testament. Importantly, there is no associated cockling, and the staining does not affect the readability of the text.

Handwritten material appears in various locations throughout the volume and consists of the family records, script practice, and occasional doodles described above.

Despite its condition issues, the Bible remains complete and readable, with its 18th-century Scottish family history preserved within the original volume.

A Record Beyond the Printed Page

What makes this Bible particularly compelling is the combination of an authentic 1729 Scottish King James Bible with handwritten family history added more than three decades later.

The Anderson family entries transform the volume from simply an early printed Bible into a surviving record of how one Scottish family interacted with, preserved, and passed down the book through generations.

It represents a tangible meeting point between 18th-century printing history and personal family history—a Bible whose story continued long after it left the printing press.

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Collection Reference: AS-1050

Every page has a story. Every story deserves to be preserved.

Preserving History • Inspiring Faith • Connecting Generations