A LOST SEA CAPTAIN'S BIBLE: HANDSOME 1730 QUARTO EDITION IN CONTEMPORARY CALF-GILT

BIBLE. The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments: Newly Translated out of the Original Tongues. Amsterdam: no publisher, 1730. Thick quarto, contemporary full brown marbled calf, elaborately gilt-decorated spine, raised bands, dark green paneled calf rebacked with original spine laid down, raised bands, elaborate gilt-decorated spine and boards, all edges gilt. $2200.

Lovely 1730 quarto Bible in contemporary marbled calf. From the family of Peleg Remington, 18th-century sea captain, noted in contemporary family notes as "Missing ever since June 9, 1776."

This version of the Bible omits Genesis 29:23 ("And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her"). The shoulder notes in the Old Testament provide the year before Christ in which the events take place, beginning with 4004 B.C. on the first page of Genesis. Bound with Apocrypha after the Old Testament, the Psalms in Meter after the New, and an Index and Tables as front matter. Separate title pages for the New Testament and the Psalms in Meter, both also dated 1730. Herbert 1004. See Darlow & Moule 774. Owner signature "Peleg Remington/ His Bible" on verso of front free endpaper. Family annotations at two places: first, at the conclusion of Prophets, before the Apocrypha, are nine entries, including the announcement of the birth of Peleg Remington, Jr., in 1764; second, on the verso of the Whole Book of Psalms title page, beginning with the entry, "Peleg Remington, Our Honored Father Peleg Remington has Been Missen [sic] Ever Since June 9, 1776." Captain Peleg Remington was lost at sea June 9, 1776, aged about 40. He left eight children, and three of his sons—Thomas, Peleg Jr., and Charles—also became captains.

Front free endpaper (blank) rehinged. Only occasional spotting to text, some minor toning to general title page, occasional faint marginal dampstaining. Joints neatly repaired, minor restoration to corners. A very good copy, handsomely bound, with an intriguing provenance.