904

The Queen of American Bibles.

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:237.00 USD Estimated At:475.00 - 675.00 USD
The Queen of American Bibles.
Massive tome featuring folio copperplates by American engravers, The Columbian Family and Pulpit Bible, being a Corrected and Improved American Edition of the Popular English Family Bible. "With Concise Notes and Annotations, Theological, Historical, Chronological, Critical, Practical, Moral and Explanatory...Containing also, Sundry Important Received Various Readings, from the most ancient Hebrew and Greek Manuscripts, and the most celebrated Versions of Scripture...." First American Edition, published by Joseph Teale, Boston, 1822. "Embellished with numerous Superb Engravings." 10 3/4 x 17 3/4, unpaginated but 3 1/2" thick, weighing over 15 lbs., full calf, black-stamped shell motif border. Lovely brown, yellow, pink, and blue hand-marbled endpapers. Red morocco spine label, "Holy Bible," with matching cover label, decorated in gold, "Eliza Ann Rowe," presumed one of the publisher's subscribers. Over 30 crisp copperplates, by noted American engravers, including Annin, Bowen, Chorley, Kelly, Throop, et al, drawn specially for this edition: map depicting "Geographical Illustrations of Scripture Histories, Particularly Journies," Noah's Ark, The Angel appearing to Hagar, The Finding of Moses, and many more, all to an exquisitely high standard of both artistry and printmaking. In this copy, the Apocrypha does not appear, though the extra-engraved title leaf mentions it; this is also the case in some other identified copies. Some rubbing of covers, corner wear, outer hinges exposed but binding sound, two postage-stamp-size fragments lacking at top of spine and one at tail; old tape repair of leaf in Genesis V; generally uniform toning to mellow ivory, occasional minor handling evidence, some plates foxed, else text remarkably clean and excellent, many sections crisp, suggesting only occasional and partial use. Representative of a very high quality antebellum Bible, pronouncedly American in annotation, typography, illustration, and presswork. Exuding wonderful character and patina, and suitable for display in a home of the period. Scarce. Hills, English Bible in America, 434. Wright, Early Bibles of America..., p. 427.