The Book of Common Prayer [...]. London: John Bill and Christopher Barker, 1679. [Together with] 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 special command. [...]. London (or possibly Amsterdam), 1683. [Together with] The Whole Book of Psalms [...]. London: Company of Stationers, 1679.
A STUNNING 17TH CENTURY FOLIO KING JAMES BIBLE IN A BEAUTIFUL FINE BINDING, COLLATED AS COMPLETE, WITH A PHENOMENAL COLLECTION OF MAPS THROUGHOUT.
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One of the finest 17th century King James Bible folios extant in a beautiful near contemporary fine binding, collated as complete through all sections, with six absolutely stunning maps, including the famous world map, usually lacking, which is especially notable for its very early description of America. 17th century KJV Bibles are exceptionally scarce in such an excellent condition as with this example.
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Provenance:
A small number of contemporary or near contemporary notes in places in the text, probably circa the early 18th century, one example being to the head of 3B1 where the heading for that leaf is duplicated ("Judah's vile whoredom") in Jeremiah 2-3.
Extensive genealogical inscription to verso of Book of Psalms title leaf (A1) describing the descent of ownership of this Bible from circa the time of printing within the same family, written circa after 1857, which reads as follows: "David the son of John ^ (1679 anno Dom, & given Gwenlyan or angharad) Walters of Perthgerent had (?) by his wife Margarett Walters two sons the eldest died young and John who married Frances the daughter of Bill Griffiths, They had (?) anne - Bill - abel - Bridget - Bill died at the age of 6 months, anne died 2 years 6 months old, - abel married his relation Bridget daughter of Thomas Philipps and had (?) Jane - Thomas - Frances and John (who afterward took the name of Philipps) and Jane [the first Jane having died and was buried at St Michael's Church Pembroke] and Thomas died at the age of 2 years when he was buried in the East end of Bettuce Evan Church with his Grandmother Frances Walters and her family. The other part of the above named person who are dead; are probably all buried in the parish Church of Pembryn, beneath the seat opposite to the Pulpit in the middle of the Church both (?) were put in lately new at the expense of abel walters; and he is buried there also aged 87 anno Dom 1841 april. Francis Walters daughter to the above named abel and Bridget Walters died July 21st 1857 aged 65 was buried also in Pembryn Church on the 26th of July." There is then a note appended to the first line of this inscription regarding "Gwenlyan and angharad" which reads "note "angharad" and "Gwenlyan" were family names. John Walter's wife was probably 'angharad', his mother Gwenlyan."
Ownership inscription to head of OT main title reading "Jane Walters Perthgerent august 9th 1820."
Loose ephemeral MS, probably in the hand of the above or contemporaneous thereof, reading "on reading a late discussion...", followed by some interesting poetic text to include various Bible verse references, loose opposite 3A1.
Ownership inscription to head of BCP title leaf recto dated 1840, reading "This Bible belonged to Frances & Jane Walters... In rebinding the old Boards much has been lost in 1820. It belonged to their grandfather and had been in the family long, but who was the purchaser of this is not known but has descended down four generations to them."
By descent to Christopher Evans of Aberglasney, Camarthenshire, Wales, now belonging to the Aberglasney Restoration Trust and is partially open to the public.
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Size: 245 x 386 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[(2), A-K4]; [t.p., t.p., *6, **6, A1, map, A2-4, map, A5-6, B-L6, M1-5, map, M6, N-Z6, Aa-Zz6, Aaa-Mmm6, Nnn-Ooo4, A-B6, C1, map, C2-6, D-I6, a1-2, map, a3-6, b-h6, i1-3, map, i4-6, k-u6, x4]; [A-G4, H2, (2)]
Full calf over wooden boards, retaining earlier metalwork to both boards, clasps lacking retaining remnants. Both boards are securely attached, the binding is secure, and stands without shelf lean. Very attractive indeed on the shelf. Spine sunned and a little dry, minor rubbing, retains its original tooled red morocco label. No attached bookplates. Several ink and pencil inscriptions in places throughout, described under provenance, but with the vast majority of the text being exceptionally clean and bright. Leaf edge repair to A1 of the Book of Common Prayer (title leaf); this repair of course precedes 1840, likely circa 1820 given the inscription. Minor dampstaining to the foot of the first few gatherings of the BCP, else exceptionally clean throughout the full text block. All sections collate as complete, including all title leaves and maps for the BCP, Old Testament, Apocrypha, New Testament, and Book of Psalms. Some pieces of the metalwork are slightly loose. Some sporadic near contemporary marginalia (circa late 17th to early 18th century) in an unidentified hand, for example at the head of 3B1. Circa late 19th century ephemeral manuscript loose to verso of 3A1, and a further extensive inscription to the verso of the Book of Psalms title leaf. Exceptionally fine maps throughout as pictured, a total of six. Truly one of the finest 17th century King James folio Bibles extant.
[Herbert 782].
