The Book of Common Prayer [...]. London: Charles Bill & Thomas Newcomb, 1703. [Together with] The Holy Bible. London: Charles Bill & Thomas Newcomb, 1703. [Together with] The Whole Book of Psalms, 1703, large 4to.
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A magnificent early 18th-century King James Bible very finely bound in red morocco gilt with a beautifully intricate panelled design to the boards and fine repeating pattern to the spine compartments. A luxurious binding, evidently bound for a wealthy English patron, bound not just with the King James Bible, but also including the Book of Common Prayer and the Book of Psalms, and hence this is a Bible which brings together both pragmatism and beauty. In blending those two themes, it is sizeable, being a large quarto or small folio, without being so large that it becomes difficult to use. Despite clear signs of extensive use, it nonetheless remains useable for centuries to come with a bright and clean text block.
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Size: 204 x 277 mm (approx.)
Condition:
Contemporary (original) full red morocco binding richly tooled in gilt to both boards and repeating in the spine in compartments between raised bands. Binding rubbed with some losses, a bit sunned, but very well presented and very attractive. Some loss to head of the backstrip. Both boards securely attached, the binding is secure. Shelf and edge wear, corners rubbed as typical. Internally generally clean throughout, opening leaf (BCP title leaf) and subsequent few creased as typical. Some dampstaining in the final bound work (Psalms) not touching the preceding section (Bible text).
