Original sheep, red and blue morocco labels on the back and C. Thomson lettered in gold. Initialled by Jefferson at sig[.] I and T in each volume. With the Library of Congress 1815 bookplate.

Thomson originally intended the book to be issued in two large quarto volumes and it is so advertised in Thomas Dobson’s announcement of his Proposals for printing the work in the Aurora (beginning on November 30, 1807), the price to be $10.00 in boards.

The change to octavo format was made at the suggestion of Jefferson, who wrote to Thomson on January 11, 1808: “ I see by the newspapers your translation of the Septuagint is now to be printed, & I write this to pray to be admitted as a Subscriber. I wish it may not be too late for you to reconsider the size in which it is to be published. folios & Quartos are now laid aside because of their inconvenience. every thing is now printed in 8 ^vo. 12 ^mo. or petit format. the English booksellers print their first editions indeed in 4 ^to. because they can assess a larger price on account of the novelty, but the bulk of readers generally wait for the 2 ^d. edition which is for the most part in 8 ^vo. this is what I have long practised myself. Johnson of Philadelphia set the example of printing a handsome edition of the bible in 4. v. 8 ^vo. I wish yours were in the same form . . . ”

Thomson replied from Harrison, Pennsylvania on February 24: “I have received your favour of the 11 January, and not only hold myself honoured by it but am exceedingly gratified by your sweet address and kind remembrance of me. Your letter lay many days in the post office, because the post master as he informs me did not know where I lived nor by what route to forward it to me. On receiving it I went to Philadelphia and altered the size proposed for my translation from a quarto to an octavo and have ordered new proposals to be issued accordingly. The work will be comprised in 3 vol oct of about 600 pages each. It will be printed on a good medium paper with a new type in pica & will I hope be begun in May & finished in the course of the summer . . .”

No further advertisement appeared until September 28, when the publication of the first volume of the four volume edition was announced, price $2.50 per volume, eight dollars for the set. This announcement was signed by Thomas Dobson, Joseph and James Cruikshank, William W. Woodward, Hopkins and Earle, James Parke, Jane Aitken, and Benjamin and Thomas Kite.

Thomson sent copies of the first and second volumes to Jefferson on December 13, 1808: “. . . By him [i.e. Thomas Amies] I send you the first & second volume of my translation. The third is in great forwardness & the fourth & last will I hope be compleated in two or three months at farthest. These as fast as they are ready I will forward to you and crave your acceptance of the copy--a testimonial of the ardent, constant & unalterable love and esteem of Your old and sincere friend Chas Thomson.”

Jefferson replied on December 25: “ I thank you, my dear & antient friend, for the two volumes of your translation which you have been so kind as to send me. I have dipped into it at the few moments of leisure which my vocations permit, and I percieve that I shall use it with great satisfaction on my return home. I propose there, among my first emploiments, to give to the Septuagint an attentive perusal, and shall feel the aid you have now given me . . . ”