Magnificent Cambridge Folio KJV Bible, Black Morocco Binding, Dated 1638:
Large folio. 3 parts in 1OT(With Apocrypha), NT and Book of Psalms, separate titles Roman letter, double column, all pages double ruled in red. Title within handsome engraved border with Tetragrammaton, angels, biblical scenes, Moses, David, the Evangelists and the Last Supper, quadruple ruled in red, decorated initials and ornaments. An excellent, clean, well-margined copy in contemporary English black morocco, double gilt ruled with rolls of semicircles and dentelles, large gilt flowers to corners, central panel with gilt corner pieces of gouges and flowers, similarly decorated gilt diamond-shaped centrepiece, ridged spine.
In a monumental rebind that has retained the original, decorated black morocco binding. Adding it to a new cover, it was cropped expertly, maintaining its grandeur. The gilting emphasises the beauty of the tooling work carefully impressing details and ornamentation. In a style very similar to John Houlden who was a famous book binder, based in Cambridge at the time.
This tome is entirely clean of inscriptions or quotations. Almost as if it was never read or used.
This Bible would have been fundamentally important to both Anglicans and Puritans, as Cambridge was home to Emmanuel College, Founded by Sir Walter Mildmay in 1584. Using his political positions and power to enhance and protect Protestants and their interests.
Darlow & Moule 403. Not found in Herbert (the closest classification I could find is NO 520).
Dimensions:
Weight - 5.14KG
Height - 40cm
Width - 24.5cm
Thickness - 8cm
Damage:
- Occasional foxing
- Some (water) staining in the book of psalms
- Some of the double red lines are faded
- Occasionally a few leaves are stuck together at the top right hand corner
