California TREASURE: Historic Bible Reunited With MISSING Artwork—After 200 Years!
One of America’s most treasured Gutenberg Bibles just got one step closer to wholeness—and it’s happening right here in California! 🌐 #News #SanMarinoCA #California #Lifestyle
SAN MARINO, CA — After two centuries of separation, a rare devotional image has been rejoined with a priceless copy of the Gutenberg Bible at the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens here in California. The long-lost artwork, once tucked inside the Bible’s original binding, had vanished in the 19th century—but has now found its way home.
Devotional Print Vanished in 1825 Auction
The remarkable Bible, acquired by railroad magnate Henry E. Huntington in 1911 for what would now equal roughly $1.8 million, was missing three key elements when it arrived at the library’s collection: devotional prints that had been removed and sold off nearly a century earlier. One of those rare images—“Christ on the Mount of Olives”—surfaced last year.
Stephen Tabor, the Huntington’s curator of rare books, caught wind of its impending sale and jumped at the chance to retrieve it. Months of meticulous effort involving historical research, licensing, paperwork, and fundraising followed. By September, the print had finally arrived—enclosed in a wooden case Tabor compared to a sacred artifact.
The newly reunited pair are now on display through May 26, drawing visitors eager to witness the revival of one of the rarest books in the world.
A Glimpse Into the Past
Printed in the 1450s, Gutenberg’s Bible marked the dawn of the movable-type era. Of the 180 original copies, only about 50 are still known to exist, and fewer still remain on vellum, a type of parchment made from calfskin. Huntington’s version is one of only three vellum copies in the United States.
The devotional print itself is even more elusive. Created using a “dotted metal cut” process—a meticulous technique involving punctured metal plates—it portrays Christ in prayer before His crucifixion. Roman soldiers, led by Judas, approach in the background, while the disciples sleep nearby. The scene reflects deep personal devotion and was originally colored by hand.
Tabor believes these prints were likely added by the first owner of the Bible, possibly a wealthy private collector rather than a religious institution. Two other companion prints from the set remain housed separately—one in the British Museum and another at the University of Manchester.
Too Big for Bedtime Reading
Weighing 25 pounds per volume, the Gutenberg Bible was never meant for casual reading. It was built for public display and spiritual reverence. Despite its size and age, the Bible still reveals secrets to those who study it closely. The return of the print has reinvigorated scholarly interest and uncovered new insights into how this monumental work was originally used and cherished.
Did You Know?
- Only 49 partial or complete Gutenberg Bibles are known to exist today, and just 21 are considered complete (Library of Congress).
- The dotted metal cut technique was used for a short period in the mid-15th century and is found mostly in the Upper Rhine region (British Museum).
- The Huntington Library’s Gutenberg Bible is the only one in the western U.S. printed on vellum (Princeton University Library).
Moment for Reflection
Even after centuries apart, the return of a single missing piece can make something whole again. There’s beauty in restoration, in finding what was lost and welcoming it home. Like the pages of this sacred book, our lives too can be mended over time—through patience, love, and grace. Sometimes, the most extraordinary reunions come quietly, yet leave a lasting peace in their wake.
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