"CONCEIVED HARMONIOUSLY AND MADE BEAUTIFULLY": THE FAMOUS 5-VOLUME NONESUCH BIBLE — ONE OF ONLY 75 COPIES ON ARNOLD RAG PAPER.
The Nonesuch Bible: The Holy Bible, reprinted according to the Authorised Version 1611. London: Nonesuch Press, 1924-27. Five volumes. Quarto, original full morocco, all edges gilt. Very rare in the full morocco, significantly more so than the vellum.
-------------------
This edition was originally published as a limited edition of 1250 with 75 copies on Arnold rag paper. This is number 32 (XXXII) of 75. There was the option to have these bound either in vellum or full morocco. The vast majority of those 75 were bound in vellum with (presumably) very few buyers selecting the full morocco. The full morocco with all edges gilt is generally significantly more aesthetically pleasing and more in the general style of the Nonesuch Press limited editions, such as the much renowned Shakespeare, Don Quixote, etc editions. It being limited to just 75 copies in the first place makes the original full calf version truly rare in the market. In research, we only found one example having been sold at auction (below).This set was purchased by F.J.H Lloyd, a Royal Navy Commander, with his bookplate to the front pastedown of each volume and his name printed in the colophon of the first volume.
-------------------
Probably the finest printing of the Bible in recent memory, especially the much celebrated beautiful typography by Francis Meynell which is very easy on the eye with fantastic spacing and margins. The quality of the paper, the binding - everything aggregates to a whole more than the sum of its parts. A truly beautiful composition. It was originally printed as just the Apocrypha volume, but the reception was so positive that the project was enlarged to encompass the entire Bible.
Similar examples:
A similar example (but bound in the vellum) sold at Bonhams for $5,490 on the 19th October 2009 lot 70.
A defective copy of this edition bound in the morocco sold at Sotheby's lot 182 in 'The Wardington Library Bibles' sale in 2006 for £3,840, which, adjusted for inflation, is equivalent to £7,100 in 2023. It was described as having "bindings soiled with spines faded and water-damaged".
Condition:
Some wear to the binding of the first volume as pictured with some loss to the edge of the spine and affecting the boards (first volume only). Generally the bindings are near fine with very bright gilt and the occasional minor mark/scratch which are not particularly intrusive. Page edges near fine with uncut fore-edge as published. Each volume with aforementioned bookplate to pastedown and very mild edge toning to front and rear free endpapers as commensurate with the calf binding. All text blocks fine and collated as complete.
A stunning set and a true example of typographic excellence, rarely seen since incunabula times.
