Title: The Holy Bible containing the Old Testament and the New, 1638. An Early Bible with a Beautiful Contemporary Binding and Silver Fittings, and Early, Documented Women Ownership
Author: Church of England
Publisher: Imprinted at London by Robert Barker
Condition: Very Good
A mid 17th century edition of the Holy Bible, containing both the Old and New Testament, printed by Robert Barker. There are two engraved title pages, each with various iconography and symbols, and King David playing his harp.
The volume has been finely bound in black morocco leather, with lovely Cambridge panel tooling to the covers, and additional decorations, which were likely once decorated in gilt. There are also silver fittings to the edges of the boards, and fittings for clasps, though the clasps themselves are lacking.
There are several ownership inscriptions, dating back as early as 1725 for John and Elizabeth Carpenter, and one from 1757 for Maria Fischer. There are three other inscriptions dated 1769, 1810(?), and 1892, though I cannot quite as easily make out the names.
This volume most recently belonged to the library collection of Mulberry House, a former rectory of High Ongar church.
One finely bound volume in 12mo (14.5 x 7.8 cm), A-Mm12
This volume is in very good shape, with rubbing and wear to the binding, heavier to the head and foot of spine with minor leather loss. There are a few tiny marginal tears to the first four leaves, with minor loss to the first title page. There is some foxing and yellowing throughout.