Raiders of the lost ark - bible question

N

nwjedidave

Sr Member
does anyone know ? The bible used in Raiders - vintage, antique if you search the online auctions - is there a name for the clasps over the pages? Or when the book has this is there a name for this ?

And did just bibles have this done to them? I've always thought this would be a FANTASTIC touch to have a book done like this.

Anyone have any info? thanks in advance
 
I started a thread about it a couple of months ago. I don't know if it was a Bible (too large and why would Indy be carrying one). The script refers to it as "an over sized book". It would certainly be a great prop.
 
Family bibles used to be printed that large, starting about 100 years ago, with the nice clasps and thick leather covers. They include about 30-50 extra pages in the front for recording family events (births, deaths, marriages, etc) and genealogies, and about 100 extra pages in the back for journaling. They were intended to be generational heirlooms. They did include extra material in them as well, such as sections from the Book of Common Prayer, and illustrations. So the scene from Indy isn't way off... it's exactly the kind of bible you'd find in a museum, not only for the artifact value of an old book, but also for the historical journal and genealogy data.

My family has such a bible, though it hasn't been passed down into my hands yet.
 
I'd contact Ralph McQuarries people about this one. Gobler and I spoke to them in detail about the "bible page" at C4. Ralph's book has some great shots of the preliminary artowrk for the page as well as the final print. I cannot recall though if they said anything about the book itself. I'm willing to bet that they would know or can ask Ralph and get back to you. They're a bunch of nice guys.
 
thanks all.

what I guess I'm asking is this -

does that type of book with the specific clasps (can I call it a book since I've only ever seen it as a bible) have a name?

Other than "antique" or "vintage" is there a specific work to describe a book with clasps over the unbound edge?
 
It could also just be an old book about the period, not necessarily the Bible. Remember he is into archeology so it could just be a book he has.
 
Being a Youth Minister, I have had a "thing" for Bibles for years. I have my doubts as to that being an actual Bible. I believe it was a dictionary that was modified to become a prop.

That is my theory anyway. For what it's worth. But really though, who cares what I think?
 
Just a little nerd trivia here.

When Indy walks into the lecture hall and puts the book down on the table, one of the clasps becomes undone, but after the next edit it's snapped back again. Raiders is full of these little continuity errors and I love every one of them.
 
I always thought it was a Bible too, but after a closer look, there is a slight give away:

Raiderbibleopen.jpg


The Ark is mentioned in the books of Exodus 25:10-22; Joshua 3; and 2 Samuel 6:1-19. If it was a Bible, these books would be in the Old Testament, and therefore should be located closer to the front of the book. As Indy sets the book on the table to show the Ark picture, it is clearly closer to the middle (and slightly past middle) of the book.

Another screencap of the page:

RaiderBible1.jpg


I always thought the picture was from the book of Exodus (Indy Magnoli's site maybe?) but I didn't see any references to that in the movie clip. I still like to see a good reproduction of this page for a paper prop.

(y)thumbsup to Phase Pistol for an old thread detailing how to do screen caps on a Mac. I just got mine a couple weeks ago and hadn't done any yet.


-Propcicle
 
The actual picture was illustrated by Ralph Mcquarrie, and if i recall correctly, the book is an antique Dutch bible that they just opened up, and inserted the picture into the book for the shot. So in that case it really doesnt matter what book the Bible was opened to.

-Jeff
 
http://www.nnp.org/nnp/publications/ABAFB/1.3.pdf


Images are very powerfule. A good example is the common
delight most people experienced in the film
“Raiders of the Lost Ark.” The delight was remarkably
heightened for sharp-eyed Hudson Valley Dutch historians.
Their unanticipated thrill came when Harrison
Ford pulled from a shelf of ancient tomes the familiar
icon-a large, brass-comer-tipped and clasped, embossed
leather volume, the Dutch Bible.
Click to expand...
​
​


 
Last edited by a moderator:
When I was a kid,.. My Grandmother showed me the, Family Picture Bible,.. Crips it was Huge & like a Comic Book.. Had to be 5" thick.. Leather Bound & Clasps...

I actually inherated it... It sits on a Book Case.. I've never even opened it..

I thought about donating it to a local church...

I wonder what these things go for,.. Anyone???

My grandmother showed me the Bible, because I asked her about the Ark,..

LOLOL,.. So funny,.. She didn't know or Care who Indy was...

L8
Snoose
 
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