1679 King James Bible – Large Folio with 130 Double-Page Plates, Maps, Geneva Notes

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. With Most Profitable Annotations…

Summary

A pulpit folio King James Bible printed with the Geneva marginal notes and chapter summaries. Bound with 130 stunning double-page plates, five maps, and four title pages, all ruled in red.  

Description

Architectural title page (1679) ruled in red with Moses and Aaron, a view of London below, and the royal arms above. With additional engraved title page by Vissher of the Figures of the Bible (n.d.), ruled in red. With the printed title page with the royal arms (1679), ruled in red. Bound with 130 double-page plates (66 in the Old Testament and 64 in the New Testament) and five maps printed by Visscher. The five Moxon maps include: Map of the Earth (California as an island), Garden of Eden, 40 Years in the Desert, Jerusalem, the Promised Land. Text in two column Roman font with very wide margins. Text, maps, and plates ruled in red. With the Geneva marginal notes and chapter summaries. Bound with the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (2 ff.) supplied from a smaller copy and The Whole Book of Psalms (1679) by Sternhold and Hopkins. Woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces throughout.

Collation

A-Z^6, Aa-Zz6, Aaa-Mmm^6, Nnn-Ooo^4 (Old Testament), a-u^6, x^4 (New Testament). Complete.

Binding

Contemporary brown calf with seventeenth century armorial stamp of Richard Bridgeman. Covers with heraldic stamp at center, surrounded by double gilt panels and corner fleurons, faded. Rebacked and recornered, with small loss to rear cover. Spine with seven raised bands and elaborate gilt tooling to compartments with one gilt-lined red morocco label and the words “Holy Bible” lettered in gilt. Contemporary marbled endpapers. All edges gilt.

Condition

Occasional, marginal spotting mostly to beginning and end of text; ; eighteenth century ownership inscription of Maria Bedingfield; general title page with closed tear paper repair to verso; A1 lower marginal closed tear; A6 three old tape repairs to gutter, hinges strengthened; twenty double-page plates and two maps with minor lower marginal chipping; five plates with tears; two plates creased; one plate (number 11) with small marginal loss and closed tear. Plates appear to have been removed and thereafter reattached but without the guards, thus the text block present slightly unevenly throughout. Text is crisp, clean, and bright throughout and printed on thick paper.

Note

One of a handful of King James Bibles printed with the beloved Geneva notes, but this copy significantly taller than the two described in Herbert’s Catalogue. The armorial binding with heraldic stamps and intricate, red-ruled supplied plates and text suggest provenance of a wealthy family. These kinds of collectible treasures do not come to market often.

References

Herbert 743.