Holy Bible: Douay Version
It may justly be asked why Preserving Christian Publications has published another edition of The Holy Bible in the Douay-Rheims version when various other publishers have done so in the past twenty years. Certainly, it could be seen as superfluous to add a new edition to those already in existence.
This is a good question for which we hope to give a satisfactory answer.
Indeed, there are paperback editions of this Bible available, as well as hardbound editions in pocket size, standard size & large size. We do not want to belittle any of these editions insofar as the translations are the traditional Douay-Rheims text. And many of these reprinted editions are bound correctly in leather, imitation leather or cloth. They should last, for the most part, for many years. Moreover, they are also attractive. But to provide a more easily affordable Bible, we decided to publish an edition without some of the more deluxe features, making it more economical for the purchaser to obtain Bibles as inexpensive gifts for family and friends, or for personal use.
Therefore we decided to reprint a standard size Douay-Rheims edition based on the 1914 P. J. Kenedy & Sons edition, which was a reissue of the John Murphy Co. edition of 1899. In doing so we wanted to make it affordable and not too elaborate, yet durable so that it can be used regularly, and purchased as gifts without being too expensive. Surely, if one wanted to purchase three of these Bibles, it would be less costly than purchasing two copies from most other publishers, since we automatically offer a 10% discount for anyone purchasing three or more copies of our books in print.
We scanned the original edition and cleaned up the pages as needed. Then we incorporated durable end sheets in the actual production so that the Bible would last numerous readings. As with all of our books, we had the Bible sewn so the pages do not fall out after a few readings. We are offering this Bible in two colors: black and red. Both styles have an attractive cover with a golden border surrounding the cross. Moreover, we used Bible paper to make the book less bulky and more compact.
Since 1609 the Douay-Rheims Bible had been the longest standard Catholic text used in public readings as well as for private reflection. And as is known among those familiar with the history of this Bible, it was revised by Bishop Challoner in the eighteenth century to make the reading of it more understandable. This is the edition that we have currently reprinted.
We believe this affordable yet very durable Bible should be a welcome addition to anyone’s personal library.
