{"product_id":"biblia-pauperum-limited-american-edition-1885-no-327-of-375","title":"Biblia Pauperum Limited American Edition 1885 No. 327 of 375","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eA beautiful and unusually decorative 1885 limited edition of the Biblia Pauperum, printed by Unwin Brothers at the Gresham Press, London, for A. C. Armstrong \u0026amp; Son of New York.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eThis edition was restricted to just 375 copies printed for America, with this example individually numbered 327.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eContaining thirty-eight woodcut illustrations, the work recreates the appearance and character of some of the earliest illustrated biblical books. The illustrations depict the life, parables and miracles of Jesus Christ, accompanied by biblical text derived from John Wycliffe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eThe volume is particularly attractive in its elaborate cream parchment-style binding, extensively decorated in gilt in a Gothic design and retaining its two ornate brass clasps. Internally, it is printed on heavy handmade-style paper with untrimmed edges, deliberately recalling the appearance of early printed books.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Biblia Pauperum\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eThe Biblia Pauperum, or \"Bible of the Poor\", was a form of highly illustrated biblical book particularly associated with the later Middle Ages and the earliest period of European printing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eRather than presenting the complete biblical text, these works used illustrations alongside shorter passages of scripture to communicate biblical narratives and theological ideas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eThe tradition became especially important during the 15th century, when examples were produced as so-called block books, in which illustrations and sometimes text were cut into wooden blocks and printed onto paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eThis 1885 edition was created during the Victorian revival of interest in medieval manuscripts, incunabula and the origins of European printing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Woodcuts and the 1877 Caxton Celebration\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eThe history behind the illustrations is particularly fascinating.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eThe printer's note records that during the great Caxton Celebration of 1877 in London, a remarkable collection of early printed books was exhibited at South Kensington. Among the exhibits was a volume of impressions accompanied by the woodblocks from which they had reportedly been produced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eThese blocks had apparently been purchased in Nuremberg approximately sixty years earlier by Mr Sams of Darlington.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eTheir precise origins were already uncertain when this edition was produced. The printers themselves acknowledged that the blocks could not confidently be associated with a known early printed book and that the artist's mark appearing upon the thirty-seventh plate remained unidentified.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eThe resulting mystery formed part of the fascination surrounding the illustrations and their subsequent reproduction in the present work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eA Victorian Recreation of Early Printing\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eConsiderable effort was made to give the book the appearance of a much earlier production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eThe biblical text uses deliberately archaic typography and spelling derived from the writings associated with John Wycliffe, while elaborate borders, initials and ornamental devices reproduce the appearance of late-medieval and early Renaissance printing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eThe volume was also printed on substantial handmade-style paper with rough, untrimmed edges, further enhancing its antiquarian character.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eThe result is not simply a reproduction of biblical illustrations, but a remarkable Victorian attempt to recreate the visual and physical experience of an early printed devotional book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eArthur Penrhyn Stanley\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eThe volume includes a preface by the Very Rev. Arthur Penrhyn Stanley (1815–1881), the influential Victorian churchman, historian and Dean of Westminster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eStanley was one of the prominent ecclesiastical figures of Victorian Britain and was closely associated with Westminster Abbey for nearly two decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eLimited Edition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eThe limitation leaf states:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\"This Edition Consists of Three Hundred and Seventy-five Copies, Printed for America by Unwin Brothers, Of London, England.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eThis example is individually numbered:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eNo. 327\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eThe small limitation makes this a particularly appealing example for collectors of fine press books, biblical illustration and the history of printing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBinding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eBound in an elaborate cream parchment\/vellum-style binding, extensively decorated in gilt with Gothic architectural and foliate motifs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eThe spine bears gilt decoration and the title Biblia Pauperum.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eMost notably, the volume retains its two decorative brass clasps and catches, giving the binding an intentionally medieval appearance and making the book particularly attractive when displayed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCondition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eA very attractive surviving example.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eThe pale binding displays expected age-related spotting, toning, marks and general handling wear. There is some rubbing and wear around the extremities and spine consistent with age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eThe gilt decoration remains clearly visible and attractive, and both decorative brass clasps are retained.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eInternally, the handmade-style paper remains generally clean and presents extremely well, with occasional light spotting, toning and age-related marks. The rough and irregular deckled edges are an intentional feature of the production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eThe woodcut illustrations remain remarkably bold and crisp.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003ePlease examine the supplied photographs carefully.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePublication Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eTitle: Biblia Pauperum\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eText: Extracted from John Wycliffe\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003ePreface: Arthur Penrhyn Stanley, D.D., Dean of Westminster\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003ePrinter: Unwin Brothers, Gresham Press\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003ePublisher: A. C. Armstrong \u0026amp; Son\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003ePlace: London \/ New York\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eDate: 1885\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eIllustrations: 38 woodcuts\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eEdition: Limited American edition of 375 copies\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eCopy: No. 327 of 375\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eBinding: Decorated cream parchment\/vellum-style binding with gilt decoration and two brass clasps\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Buy This Copy?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eAn exceptionally decorative example of the Victorian fascination with the earliest history of the printed book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eCombining 38 medieval-style woodcuts, Wycliffite biblical text, handmade-style paper, Gothic typography, elaborate gilt binding and surviving brass clasps, the volume was consciously designed to evoke a book produced during the infancy of European printing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eIts connection with the 1877 Caxton Celebration gives the work an additional bibliographical interest, while the individually numbered limitation of only 375 copies for America makes this considerably more than an ordinary Victorian biblical facsimile.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA striking addition to a collection devoted to early printing, biblical illustration, medievalism, John Wycliffe, fine press books or the history of the Bible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWeight - 484g\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHeight - 20.7cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWidth - 15.5cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThickness - 3cm\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Momo Rare Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54753846165843,"sku":null,"price":350.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0953\/9187\/5411\/files\/IMG_8832.jpg?v=1787852376","url":"https:\/\/www.momorarebooks.co.uk\/products\/biblia-pauperum-limited-american-edition-1885-no-327-of-375","provider":"Momo Rare Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}