| The first bible to be printed in America was the | | | | talking and occasionally using drawings. Until John |
| Algonquin Bible by John Eliot. The Algonquin Bible | | | | Eliot produced the Algonquin Bible the native |
| was first published in 1663 in Cambridge, Mass. | | | | Americans did not have a written language. The |
| The Algonquin Bible was also the first bible printed | | | | Algonquin Bible not only brought the gospel to the |
| in the western hemisphere. Until the later 1700's | | | | native Americans it also gave them a written |
| English bibles could more cheaply be printed in | | | | language. With the production of the Algonquin |
| England and imported to America than they could | | | | Bible the native Americans could then read the |
| be printed in America. Many people are surprised | | | | bible and the Algonquin Bible gave them the ability |
| to learn the first bible printed in America was not | | | | to use the alphabet to write other stories about |
| in English, French or German. The Algonquin Bible | | | | their culture. The creation of the Algonquin Bible |
| was printed in the Massachusetts Indian dialect - | | | | was a monumental task. At the time, the |
| Algonquin. | | | | Algonquin language was considered to be one of |
| John Eliot emigrated to The New World (America) | | | | the most difficult in the world. |
| in 1631 and arrived at Massachusetts Bay Colony | | | | The Algonquin Bible has been called the Algonquin |
| which was founded by the Puritans. Part of the | | | | Indian Language Bible, the Algonquin Bible and the |
| initial goal of the Massachusetts Bay Colony was | | | | Eliot Bible. The Algonquin Bible was printed on |
| to evangelize the native Americans. | | | | 100% rag cotton linen sheet and the official title |
| John Eliot, a New England Puritan pastor, needed a | | | | was “The Holy Bible Containing the Old |
| bible for his mission to bring the gospel to the | | | | Testament and New. Translated into the Indian |
| native Americans. The bible he needed was not | | | | Language.” 1000 complete copies of the |
| available anywhere. He had to produce the bible | | | | Algonquin Bible with the old and new testament |
| he needed so he produced the Algonquin Bible. | | | | were printed and available to distribute to the |
| John Eliot had gained the confidence of the native | | | | Algonquin Indians. |
| Americans. He agreed to learn their language and | | | | Some of the leaves from the Algonquin Bible still |
| they agreed to learn the phonetic alphabet used | | | | remain after almost 350 years. They are a rare |
| by the western world. John Eliot was then able to | | | | and important part of our American history. The |
| produce the Algonquin Bible by translating the bible | | | | Algonquin Bible along with being the first bible |
| into the Algonquin language. The result was the | | | | printed in American and the Western Hemisphere |
| Algonquin Bible in the native American tongue. | | | | the Algonquin Bible is one of the earliest of |
| Prior to the creation of the Algonquin Bible the | | | | American printings. Leaves from the Algonquin |
| Indians had communicated almost exclusively by | | | | Bible have sold for well over $3000. |