King James Bible - photo 1
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King James Bible

Starting price
£ 5 000
Auction dateClassic
09.12.2020 00:00UTC +01:00
Auctioneer
CHRISTIE'S
Event location
United Kingdom, London
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 470197
Lot 123 | King James Bible
King James Bible

The Holy Bible. 1634

BIBLE, English. The Holy Bible, containing the Old Testament, and the New: Newly Translated out of the Originall Tongues: And with the former Translations diligently compared and revised, by His Majesties speciall Commandment. London: Robert Barker, 1634.



A complete copy of the fourth folio edition of the King James Bible, arguably the most important book ever published in English. Very rare: RBH records just three complete copies at auction. Preparation of the Royal Version took more than 5 years and was laboriously attended to by over 50 translators and researchers. Although this version appropriates much from the Tyndale, Coverdale, Geneva and Bishops' Bibles, it is unquestionably regarded as the greatest literary translation of the Bible ever produced. Herbert 487; STC 2312.



Folio (427 x 281mm). General title-page and section title for the New Testament within woodcut borders, calendar and almanac printed in red and black, 17 leaves of genealogical tables incorporating woodcut illustrations of Adam and Eve, Noah's Ark, the Tower of Babel and other Biblical subjects, double-page engraved map of the Holy Land by John Speed after Dr John More (variable waterstaining, 10 leaves with marginal chips or tears, some extending into printed text or borders, some repaired, small wormhole in first c.40 leaves sometimes affecting text, minor rust hole in upper left side of map affecting text at corner of inset map). 18th-century diced calf, sides with elaborately gilt borders, spine lettered in gilt on black morocco label and directly to one compartment, others decoratively gilt (somewhat rubbed, more heavily at corners and spine ends, some splitting at joints). Provenance: John Hutchinson (1732-1806; annotation to front endpapers recording deaths and birthdays in the Hutchinson family, opposite a contemporary manuscript index of 27 books).

Place of origin:Northern Europe
Category:Book, Religious book
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
09.12.2020 – 09.12.2020
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
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