A SYRIAC BIBLE PRINTED IN LONDON FOR USE IN INDIA

Item #97

A SYRIAC BIBLE PRINTED IN LONDON FOR USE IN INDIA

SYRIACA -- BIBLES -- (OLD and NEW TESTAMENT in Syriac, The, ed. by S. Lee). Lond., 1823-26. 2 in 1 vol. (4), 705; (2), 360 pp. 4o. Library buckram with seminary marks and bookplate. Some general toning . See Darlow & Moule 8981 & 8986; Moss, 123 & 159.

$1250.

This Bible, produced between 1823 and 1826 in London, was specifically printed for the Syrian Church of Malabar, a Christian community in India with deep roots going back to the Apostle Thomas. The Malabar Church, which adheres to the West Syriac liturgical tradition, has long maintained a distinct identity within Indian Christianity, heavily influenced by its Syriac heritage.

Edited by Samuel Lee, a noted Orientalist and scholar at Cambridge, the Bible was intended to serve the particular needs of the Malabar Christians. The Old Testament in this edition follows Version B, a recognized Syriac translation, though it omits the Latin title-page and Psalm 151, reflecting the unique liturgical practices of the Malabar Church. The New Testament includes several modifications, with section headings adjusted through the use of printed slips and stamps, ensuring that the text conformed to the expectations and traditions of its intended audience.

This printing project is emblematic of the broader 19th-century Orientalist efforts, where European scholars took a keen interest in the languages and religious practices of Eastern Christian communities. The choice of serto characters, a variant of the Syriac script, was deliberate, aiming to produce a text that was both accessible and resonant with the established liturgical practices of the Syrian Church of Malabar.

Price: $1,250.00