The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments: Newly Translated out of the Original Tongues; and with the former Translations diligently Compared and Revised. By His Majesty's Special Command. Appointed to be Read in Churches. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1701.
A STUNNING HUGE FOLIO SIZE ANTIQUE KING JAMES BIBLE; ONE OF THE FINEST PRINTINGS, HERE COMPLETE WITH BOTH ENGRAVED TITLE PAGES, USUALLY LACKING.
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One of the finest printings of the King James Bible in folio format with extensive provenance in a single family collection for much of its history. Rare in a contemporary binding.
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Provenance:
18 genealogical inscriptions to a preliminary blank and the blank verso of the NT title page from the Bray family, dating between 1768 and 1819, presumably having been in the same family earlier than the first inscription as this is a birth record, and most likely leaving the Bray family later than 1819, and thus in this single family collection for quite a long time, most likely at least a century.
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Size: 305 x 472 x 90 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[(1), t.p., t.p., a1-a4, [a1-c1], A1-3I1 (OT), a1-s2 (Apocrypha), t.p., t.p., A2-R6 (NT), (1)]
Contemporary full calf, probably bound in Cambridge, with a Cambridge panelled boards with contemporary applied metal corners and clasp mounts. The metal corners could well have been made a little earlier than the binding then moulded to size, but are certainly no later than contemporary, with very fine decoration. Binding rubbed, lacking original clasps as often but with the slight remnants of these visible which appear to have been leather reinforced with vellum. The spine retains its tooled morocco label, but this label could be a little later. There is an early repair to fix a leather strip across the joints in an attempt to re-secure the binding, subsequently the boards are attached, the front securely but the rear is fragile with the upper half detached. Page edges a little discoloured as typical. The final leaf of the text block has had some near contemporary repair to the verso without any text loss. No attached bookplates. Engraved title page with some small tears at the edges. Verso of the engraved title page has sixteen genealogical entries of the Bray family dating between 1768 and 1819 with a further two genealogical entries to the blank opposite the New Testament engraved title page between 1804-5 of the same family. Text block is mildly toned throughout but generally very clean with some minor marginal damp staining as typical, else internally excellent and collates as complete, including the scarce engraved title pages for both the Old and New Testament, commonly lacking, but here both are present in addition to the main title pages.
One of the finest printings of the King James Bible in folio format with extensive provenance in a single family collection for much of its history. Rare in contemporary binding.
