SPLENDID 18TH-CENTURY BIBLE AND BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER, WITH 51 FINELY ENGRAVED PLATES

BIBLE. The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments. BOUND WITH: The Book of Common Prayer. Oxford: Thomas Baskett, 1755. Thick quarto, contemporary full crushed burgundy morocco, elaborately gilt-decorated spine and covers, raised bands, central black morocco gilt inlays, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. $7200.

Mid-18th century editions of the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer, extra-illustrated with engraved frontispieces and additional title pages, six engraved folding maps and plans and 51 finely engraved plates, elegantly bound together in full contemporary morocco-gilt.

First published in 1611, the King James Bible is "the only literary masterpiece ever to be produced by a committee"; Macaulay praised it as "a book, which if everything else in our language should perish, would alone suffice to show the whole extent of its beauty and power" (PMM 114). Unquestionably the most influential of English Bible translations, the Authorized Version's impact on piety, language and literature is incalculable. This copy extra-illustrated with additional engraved frontispiece and title page, 51 engraved plates and six engraved folding plans and maps of "sacred geography." Includes Apocrypha and separate New Testament title page. This Bible bound together with a contemporary edition of the Book of Common Prayer. First issued in 1549, the Book of Common Prayer, with its beautiful and dignified language, has considerably influenced not only ecclesiastical practice but also literature in English for centuries. This copy with additional engraved title page and engraved frontispiece portrait of King George II. A contemporary edition (1752) of Downame's Brief Concordance, first published 1630, is bound in at the end. Bible: Herbert 1110. Book of Common Prayer: Griffiths 1755:4. Engraved presentation page dated 1756. Armorial bookplate of Sir Graham Eden Hamond, admiral in the Royal Navy.

Interior generally fine. contemporary morocco-gilt binding exceptionally beautiful. A lovely and impressive bible.