Bible. English. Bound with 1616 Book of Common Prayer, decorated. London: R. Barker, 1616

Estimate

12,000 - 18,000 USD

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Description

The Holy Bible, containing the Old Testament, and the New: Newly Translated out of the Original Tongues: and with the Former Translations diligently Compared and Revised, by his Majesties Speciall Commandement. London: Imprinted by Robert Barker, printer to the Kings most excellent Majesty, 1616
ink,paper,leather

Folio (14 x 9 in.; 365 x 228 mm). General and New Testament titles within historiated woodcut border incorporating the Royal Arms, full-sheet map of the Holy Land, full-page woodcut of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, all richly colored by a contemporary hand and highlighted with gold, title-page and calendar only from the Book of Common Prayer, Genealogies with 34 pages of woodcut family trees, these leaves, and indeed every page of the volume handcolored and/or illuminated with dense geometric border designs with many initials, chapter headings and headlines highlighted in gold; a very few leaves with marginal fraying or soiling. Contemporary black morocco, panelled in gold and with strips of metal applied to the covers and board edges, spine gilt in eight compartments, plain endpapers, gilt edges; joints a bit worn, rubbed elsewhere, front cover faded.

Provenance

Richard Ockout (signature on general title verso) — Dr. James Morecroft (annotation on flyleaf)

Literature

Formatting the Word of God 4.4; Herbert 349; STC 2245; ESTC

Catalogue Note

An extraordinary copy of the first small folio edition of the King James version. "Multiplying like endless variations upon a theme, the grid-like patterns not only frame the text block, but … concentrations of ornament accent the margin alongside every chapter heading. Thus, the decorations may have served as a formatting tool, a guide for the reader's eye" (Formatting the Word).