Special Collections

Special Collections Access

Bible Society Collection (closed access)

Bible Society Collection Finding aid (coming soon)

The Bible Society of Australia's Collection is held at St Mark's under custodial agreement.

Since white settlement many rare and significant bible editions found their way to Australia in the last 220 years. Many have been donated to the Bible Society.

Mark's Gospel in Murray Island Language (of Eddie Mabo)The collection contains :

    • bibles printed before 1500 AD
    • the first translations into Aboriginal languages
    • a First Fleet bible
    • bibles belonging to the first Governors of NSW
    • the Hopetoun Bible which is used to swear in all Governors General.
    • many bibles of great historical importance both nationally and world wide
    • Many very rare editions
    • a wide variety of translation tools

This collection is of great religious, historical and cultural importance to all Australians and it is fitting that it be kept in the nation's capital.

 

Geneva Bible often called "Breeches Bible" first published in 1560.The 'Breeches Bible'

This Geneva Bible, first printed in 1560, became known as the ‘Breeches Bible’. In Genesis 3:7 it says that Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves together to make themselves ‘breeches’. This is the original binding with the remains of metal clasps, and woodworm holes through the leather. Note the metal knobs. Decoration, we assume! Not so, say the bookbinders. For the first hundred or so years of printed books, books were laid flat on top of one another rather than upright on the shelf. The metal knobs held the books apart to prevent the leather sweating.