The Holy Bible Conteyning the Old Testament and the New: Newly translated out of the Originall tongues, and with the former Translations diligently compared and revised, by his Maiesties Speciall Comandement. Appointed to be read in Churches.

First Quarto King James He Bible with Clamshell

Summary: London: Robert Barker, 1612. Quarto (8.25 x 6.5 in). A complete King James Bible – the first edition in quarto. Bound with the Book of Common Prayer, Genealogies, Map, and Psalter with all title pages. An attractive copy that has been beautifully rebound with a custom matching clamshell.

Description: The Book of Common Prayer lacks the title page and the prelims. The Genealogies with title page (n.d.) 34pp. ends with a “Description of Canaan” and the double page map. Engraved general title (1612) by Jaspar Isaac after Cornelius Boel’s design of the 1611 folio. This title page is unique to the first quarto and folio editions. Text in two column Roman font within ruled border and 56 lines to the column. The text follows the 1611 folio Bible, including numerous errors though a few mistakes have been corrected. The reading “and hee went” in Ruth 3:15. Apocrypha included as issued. New Testament title page (1612) engraved within woodcut border comprising twenty-four compartments showing the tents of the twelve tribes as well as the figures of the twelve apostles. Title is enclosed within a heart-shaped frame. Ends on colophon (1612). Bound with The Booke of Psalmes by Sternhold and Hopkins with printed title page (1612) featuring woodcut device within double ruled border. First chapter decorative initials and head- and tailpieces.

Collation: A^8, A-Z^8, Aa-Zz^8, Aaa-Zzz^8, [A]-[M]^8. Bible text complete.

Binding: Black gilt-paneled calf with centerpiece design on top board. Gilt rolls and fleurons with Christogram (JHS) surrounded by red ovular onlay and gilt tooling. Spine with four raised bands and gilt-lined borders to compartments. Compartments with extensive gilt-tooling and the text “Holy Bible” and “King James London 1612” lettered in gilt. Plain endpapers. Custom clamshell case with matching gilt tooling to spine and covers.

Condition: Text generally clean and bright; very occasional staining and browning in places; General Title page soiled, laid down, with small marginal loss to foot; small closed tear to foot of map; F3, Bb2, Cc6, [E3] small marginal chip; S6 small hole to fore-edge margin; Ddd4-5, [C]4-5 slightly trimmed to lower edge; Zzz2 repaired to foot with loss of six lines of text to outer column; [D1,2,7], [E4] repair to lower margin. The BCP lacks the title and prelims, with first eight ff. and final 3 ff. remargined and repaired without loss; Psalter with some infrequent marginal staining, lacks final leaf of the Prayers.

Provenance: Eighteenth and nineteenth century family records of Richard and Margaret Bonner on three leaves; recto of general title reads “This Bible was givest off mad wiate to Edward and Margar Bonner October the 19 in the year of our Lord God 1722”; verso of New Testament title with “Richard Rick” in large hand.

Scarcity: USTC shows 24 copies in holding with eight in North America.

References: Herbert 313; STC 2219; ESTC S101951; USTC 3005208.

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