Freiherr Von Canstein Karl Hildebrand, the originator of a system for the diffusion of Biblical knowledge in Germany, and founder of the Canstein Bible society of Halle, born at Lindenberg, Aug. 4, 1667, died in Berlin, Aug. 19, 1719. He studied jurisprudence, made an extended journey through Europe, and in 1689 became attached to the court of Brandenburg as chamberlain to Frederick III. He resigned his office to accompany as a volunteer the army sent from Brandenburg into Flanders, serving with them during several campaigns before the peace of Ryswick. Illness, however, compelled him to abandon military life, and he returned to Berlin. Here he became acquainted with Spener and other prominent theologians, and from this time he began to devote his attention to the best method for the diffusion of religious knowledge, but published nothing till 1710, when he explained the plan upon which he had decided, in a work entitled Ohnmassgebender Vorschlag, wie Gottes Wort den Armen zur Erbauung um einen geringen Preis in die Hande zu bringen sei. Aided by subscriptions, he had by 1713 published the first edition of the New Testament printed with type kept permanently standing, and soldered together at their lower ends.

In 1716 he printed the whole Bible by the same method; in 1717 a still larger edition appeared in a larger size; and in 1722, after his death, Polish and Bohemian translations also appeared. These were the beginnings of the Can-stein Bible establishment, which in 1735 took still more definite form through the erection of a special printing office, and rapidly increased its facilities for the printing of large editions by the adoption of the stereotype process and the purchase of the best presses. He also published a concordance of the Gospels (Halle, 1718), and a biography of Spener (1729). The history of the Canstein establishment, by Bertram, was published at Halle in 1803. (See Bible Societies).