Lot 81
  • 81

Bible in English [Bishops' Version]

Estimate
4,000 - 6,000 USD
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Description

  • The Holy Bible, Conteyning the Olde Testament and the Newe, Authorized and Appoynted To Be Read in Churches. London: Deputies of Christopher Barker, 1595
  • ink,paper,leather
Two parts in one volume, folio (16 x 10 1/2 in.; 406 x 267 mm).  Black letter, text in double columns, 66 lines to the full column, general title printed in red and black within woodcut border (McKerrow & Ferguson 168), separate title-page for New Testament within woodcut border (McKerrow & Ferguson 158) with continuous register and foliation), almanac and calendar printed in red and black, 4 woodcut diagrams and maps, full-page woodcut of Adam and Eve in Eden printed in red and black, woodcut initials, head-and tailpieces; title-page and terminal leaf mounted with some marginal loss to title-page,lacking A2 (first two pages of the Prologue), repairs to fore-edges of A3–6, occasional dampstaining to fore-edges, lower corner of Tttt3 clipped, one or two minor marginal tears (one repaired with cellotape), some soiling and browning. Nineteenth-century divinity calf, spine tooled in blind, red lettering piece, brown endpapers, edges stained red; joints repaired, boards rather scratched.

Provenance

Thomas Harnbod (signature on 2A1 dated 26 April 1794) — William Borrer (armorial bookplate). acquisition: John Howell

Literature

STC 2167; ESTC S4130; Herbert 227

Condition

Two parts in one volume, folio (16 x 10 1/2 in.; 406 x 267 mm). Black letter, text in double columns, 66 lines to the full column, general title printed in red and black within woodcut border (McKerrow & Ferguson 168), separate title-page for New Testament within woodcut border (McKerrow & Ferguson 158) with continuous register and foliation), almanac and calendar printed in red and black, 4 woodcut diagrams and maps, full-page woodcut of Adam and Eve in Eden printed in red and black, woodcut initials, head-and tailpieces; title-page and terminal leaf mounted with some marginal loss to title-page,lacking A2 (first two pages of the Prologue), repairs to fore-edges of A3–6, occasional dampstaining to fore-edges, lower corner of Tttt3 clipped, one or two minor marginal tears (one repaired with cellotape), some soiling and browning. Nineteenth-century divinity calf, spine tooled in blind, red lettering piece, brown endpapers, edges stained red; joints repaired, boards rather scratched.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Catalogue Note

A bright, crisp copy of the reprint of the 1591 Bishops' Bible. There is a pencil note in a nineteenth-century hand on the first page of Genesis that this Bible once belonged to Thomas Bilson, Bishop of Winchester (1547–1616), who oversaw the final edit of the King James Bible. However, there is no empirical evidence to support that claim.