"An unrivalled specimen of the press of the time, the finest edition of the Holy Bible then extant" (Lowndes).
The Holy Bible Containing the Bookes of the Old and New Testament. Cambridge: John Field, 1660, folios, a.e.g.
A BEAUTIFUL COPY OF THE KING CHARLES II "RESTORATION BIBLE" OF 1660; ONE OF THE FINEST 17TH CENTURY BIBLES, HERE FINELY RED-RULED THROUGHOUT AND PRESENTED IN FINE CONTEMPORARY BINDINGS.
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This is one of the most desirable and valuable editions of the King James Bible, with an incredible production quality and important political motive too, with Solomon seated on the throne on the stunning engraved title page to reflect the 1660 restoration of the monarchy with King Charles II.
The text was first published the previous year by John Field, printer to the University of Cambridge, and hence the date of 1659 to the New Testament title page. John Field had been commissioned to supply a lectern bible for use in institutional settings (churches and libraries). The work was well-received, with the former university Vice-Chancellor John Worthington saying that '"For a fair large letter, large paper, with fair margin, etc, there was never such a Bible in being".
"Having presented a finely bound copy of this edition to the king on his first coming to the royal chapel at Whitehall, the publisher, Ogilby, was commanded to supply other copies for use in the chapel, closet, library, and council chamber, at a cost of £200. He presented another copy to the House of Commons, for which he received £50”.
This Bible would not have enjoyed widespread use because its size confined its serviceability primarily to the church or chapel lectern, very few copies, if any, would have been originally privately owned. Samuel Pepys makes reference to this edition in his famous diary on 27 May 1667 that he was approached by a bookbinder with quires of Ogilby’s Bible, and although Pepys seems resigned to buying the set, he comments that “it is like to be so big that I shall not use it”.
Consequently, most copies were so heavily used at the Pulpit that few survive in such an excellent condition as with the copy we present for sale here. It is very finely ruled in red on every page throughout by hand contemporaneously, and collates as complete (without the illustrations sometimes found). It also retains its beautiful contemporary fine binding with fine gilt tooling, making this copy one of the best obtainable of this desirable edition, sans the plates.
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Size: 310 x 449 mm (approx., each)
Condition:
[(2), *², ¶⁴–¶¶⁴, A–Z⁶, 2A–2Z⁶, 3A–3L⁴, 3M–3X⁶, 3Y³]; [(2), 3Y⁴–3Z⁶, 4A–4Y⁶, 4Z⁸, a–x⁶, y⁴, A–Z⁶, 2A–2D⁶, 2E⁸, (1)]
Uniform contemporary fine bindings, full morocco, all edges gilt, fine decorative tooling to spine compartments between raised bands and to boards. Front joints cracked on second volume, hinges reinforced. All boards are securely attached, bindings secure. A very attractive set indeed. Bindings rubbed, a few scratches, but a superior set.
Collated as complete through the text, including both title pages and the rare leaf with the arms of King Charles II on the verso. Illustrations excised as typical. Bottom leaf edges unevenly trimmed (i.e. some untrimmed), a few leaves slightly ragged at edges as typical, pictured. Every leaf (sans blanks) ruled in red throughout both volumes, very finely so. Very clean throughout the text blocks, a few marks sporadically, mild toning, a small number of closed tears, generally an excellent copy.
[Herbert 668; ESTC R17044; Wing B2258; Lowndes 1367; D&M 525].
