“A SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL INSPIRATION… SECOND ONLY TO THE BIBLE”: DISTINGUISHED LARGE FOLIO 1831 OXFORD FOLIO BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER, FINELY BOUND

BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER. The Book of Common Prayer. Oxford: Printed at the University Press by S. Collingwood, 1831. Folio (12 by 20 inches), contemporary full tan morocco rebacked with original spine laid down, elaborately gilt-decorated spine and boards, black morocco spine label, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. $3200.

Impressive 1831 Oxford folio edition of the magisterial Book of Common Prayer, elegantly bound by Hayday in contemporary full morocco-gilt.

Born of Thomas Cranmer’s desire for liturgical texts upon which all of Europe’s Protestant, English-speaking churches could agree, the beautiful and dignified language of the Book of Common Prayer, first issued in 1549, has considerably influenced not only ecclesiastical practice, but has served “as a source of spiritual inspiration… for most Englishmen second only to the Bible” (PMM 75). Beautifully bound by Hayday in contemporary full morocco with elaborately gilt-tooled spine and boards, featuring central lozenges, built up largely of circles and floral ornaments, within decorative frames built up from floral scrolls. Griffiths 1831:8. Presentation inscription.

Light rubbing and soiling to binding. A very nearly fine copy, handsomely bound.