Administrative records of the Bible Board for Scotland.
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.
Subject
- Bible Board, Scotland, HM Sole and Only Master Printers (Organization)
- 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
Archives and Manuscript Division
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1EJ
0131 623 3700
manuscripts@nls.uk