Momo Rare Books

1625 KJV Bible with extensive provenance

Name: 1625 KJV Bible with extensive provenance
Brand: Momo Rare Books
Price: 1800.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

£1,800.00 GBP

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Description

An authentic early King James Version Bible printed in London by the King's Printers Bonham Norton and John Bill, representing the 1625 issue .

This is a substantial and historically appealing copy retaining its original seventeenth-century character, with numerous early ownership inscriptions, contemporary ancillary material, and an old calf binding preserving evidence of its original clasps.

Unlike many surviving examples that have undergone heavy restoration, this Bible remains an honest, well-used historical volume that clearly served as a family Bible for generations.

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Holy Bible, Containing the Old Testament and the New

Translation: King James Version

Printers: Bonham Norton & John Bill, Printers to the King's Most Excellent Majesty

Place: London

Issue: Commonly identified as the 1625 issue

Bible Colophon:

Imprinted at London by Bonham Norton and John Bill...
Anno Dom. MDCXXIIII

As was common in the seventeenth century, separately printed components were assembled together when the volume was bound.

Included are:

Bible text
Two Right Profitable and Fruitful Concordances
Whole Book of Psalms

This combination is entirely consistent with authentic early seventeenth-century English Bible production.

Condition

A solid, unrestored example showing centuries of careful use.

Missing

Old Testament title page
Early Genesis leaves through most of Genesis Chapter 27
Geneaologies

The Bible begins during Genesis 27.

The New Testament is present, ending correctly with the Revelation colophon.

The Concordances and Psalms are also present.

Binding

Bound in old calf over wooden boards.

Features include:

raised bands
blind panel decoration
evidence of original metal clasps
old spine repair/reback
attractive patina from centuries of handling

The first surviving Genesis leaf shows heavy wear consistent with long exposure prior to rebinding.

Interior

Numerous early manuscript ownership inscriptions
Contemporary reader's marginal marks
Age toning and expected foxing
Some edge wear and small tears
Overall remarkably sound for a Bible approaching four centuries old.

Provenance

The Bible contains numerous historical ownership inscriptions dating from at least the late seventeenth or early eighteenth century.

Visible inscriptions include names such as:

William Jackson
John (multiple times)
Additional partially legible surnames requiring further research

One inscription appears to reference Derby, suggesting an early connection with Derby or Derbyshire.

Several ownership inscriptions remain to be fully deciphered and may reward additional genealogical research.

These handwritten entries represent primary historical evidence documenting generations of ownership and use.

Claimed Provenance

Included with the Bible is a modern handwritten genealogy card attributing ownership to the Bryer family.

The card proposes the following descent:

Richard Bryer (1680–1719)

↓

John

↓

Joseph

↓

Joseph

↓

Martha

↓

Thomas

↓

Joseph

↓

Tom

↓

Richard

and notes:

"Bible 1767 Richard Bryer"

I cannot verify this genealogy, as such it should be regarded as unverified family provenance.

Historical Significance

This volume represents one of the earliest generations of King James Bibles, printed only about fifteen years after the first Authorized Version of 1611.

Its survival with:

early Concordances
metrical Psalms
centuries of ownership inscriptions
old binding
evidence of continued family use

makes it an appealing example for collectors of early English printing, Biblical history, and seventeenth-century provenance.

Rather than a pristine display copy, this is an authentic historical working Bible whose wear tells the story of nearly four hundred years of ownership.