Bible. English, Great Bible version.

Folio (375 x 250 mm.), 5 parts, text in double columns, black letter type, divisional titles within woodcut borders, New Testament title within woodcut border attributed to Holbein of Henry VIII distributing the Word of God (with the arms of Cranmer and Cromwell), woodcut vignettes mostly in the Pentateuch, extensive manuscript notes mostly in sixteenth and seventeenth century hands including records of burials, comments on the text, drafts, and doodles, calf decorated in blind, lacking general title, preliminary *4 (see Herbert for this leaf), a1, and 3A1 (third divisional title); significant text loss, often the result of damp damage, to A1 (first divisional title, loss of one woodcut block), 2A1 (second divisional title), 2F1 (about 75mm. at head), 2O8, 2P4, 2R6, and (NT) 2N8; damp damage to 2B4-8, 2C3-6, 2P5, 3E5-6, (NT) 2H8, and 2K8 so fragile at tail; 2E1 partially detached; cropped sometimes affecting running titles; some tears, with loss at margins to about 5 leaves; some mould visible at the gutter in some openings; some worming; staining (especially to M7-8) and soiling, binding badly worn, hinges broken, loss at spine

Herbert 54; STC 2071

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A worn but serviceable copy of the third Great Bible, published in July 1540. This was the second edition to include Cranmer's prologue, and the final edition in which the famous woodcut title include the arms of Thomas Cromwell, who was executed on  28 July 1540. The names written into the Bible ("Henry ap John ap Rees" appears a number of times) suggests the book has a Welsh provenance.