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Administrative records of the Bible Board for Scotland.

 Record Group
Identifier: Acc.11182/1-41

Scope and Contents

In the early 19th century there was much public complaint about the cost and quality of Bibles produced on both sides of the Border where the respective King's printers enjoyed monopoly rights to the printing of acts of Parliament, proclamations, the Authorised Version of the Bible, the metrical psalms, catechism, etc (in England the universities of Oxford and Cambridge also had the Bible printing privilige). When the existing Scottish patent expired in 1839, new letters patent were issued to a body known as the Bible Board consisting of the Lord Advocate, Solicitor-General, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and nominated members, to hold collectively the office of HM Sole and Master Printers but, instead of printing themselves, to licence the printing of Bibles and other specified works by Scottish publishers. In 1890 the licensing powers of the Board were confined to the Bible, New Testament and Book of Psalms. Crown copyright applies only to the Authorised Version and not the numerous alternative translations that are now available. All business relating to licences is normally transacted by the Clerks to the Board, and depositors, on their behalf, of the records listed below, Messrs Bell and Scott, WS, Edinburgh (formerly Bell and Scott, Bruce and Kerr, WS).

Dates

  • Creation: 1832-1981.

Conditions Governing Access

Normal access conditions apply.

Conditions Governing Use

Normal reproduction conditions apply, subject to any copyright restrictions.

Extent

41 Consultation units

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Deposited, 1995, by Messrs Bell and Scott WS, Edinburgh.

Title
National Library of Scotland Catalogue of Manuscripts
Author
National Library of Scotland
Description rules
Finding Aid Prepared Using Local Descriptive Rules
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division Repository

Contact:
Archives and Manuscript Division
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1EJ
0131 623 3700