1677 Cambridge Quarto Bible – Printed by John Hayes

Complete with Book of Common Prayer, Old Testament (1675), Apocrypha, New Testament (1675), and Psalms (1677)

This is an authentic 17th-century King James Version Bible, printed at the University of Cambridge during the Restoration period. It features the desirable engraved architectural general title dated 1677, and includes the Old Testament, Apocrypha, New Testament, the Book of Common Prayer, and the Whole Book of Psalms.

This edition is identified in the standard bibliographic references as:

• Herbert 736

• Darlow & Moule 581

A complete and historically significant example of a Cambridge “service-book Bible” of the late 1600s.

Bibliographic Details

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

• Printer: John Hayes, Printer to the University of Cambridge

• Contents :

  • Book of Common Prayer

  • Old Testament (Dated 1675)

  • Apocrypha

  • New Testament (Dated 1675)

  • Whole Book of Psalms (title page dated 1677)

• Engraved architectural general title: Present but with loss to upper portion

• Text: Roman type, two-column format

• Condition:

  • Binding: New binding (Tape? mark on front cover).

  • Title pages BCP - no, OT - yes, NT - yes, BoPs - yes (Please see photos for condition).

  • Text block generally clean and legible, foxing and staining can be found.

  • Some pages have chips and have been shaved.

  • No red ruling.

  • First 4 leaves have had page repairs done to them.

  • Small inscription on the back of the NT title leaf:

    "John Brooks

    Ash Burton
    Cumbria
    1824"

A solid and representative example of a Cambridge Bible printed under John Hayes.

Historical Background of This Bible:

This Bible was printed during the reign of King Charles II (1660–1685), a period known as the Restoration. The monarchy, the Church of England, and the universities were being re-established after the upheavals of the English Civil War and the Cromwellian Commonwealth.

Key features of the period reflected in this Bible:

• Reaffirmation of the Church of England: Cambridge and Oxford played central roles in restoring Anglican liturgy. At this time, printers often issued Bibles bound with the Book of Common Prayer and the Psalms, creating complete service books like this one.

• High demand for Bibles: Literacy and private devotional reading increased significantly during the 17th century. Cambridge responded by expanding Bible production.

• Stability under the KJV: By the 1670s, the King James Version (first printed in 1611) had become the undisputed English Bible. Every official church Bible, like this one, used the KJV.

Your Bible is a tangible witness to this influential period in English religious and political history.

About the Printer: John Hayes:

John Hayes was one of the most important English university printers of the 17th century:

• Appointed Printer to the University of Cambridge in 1673.

• Oversaw an era of major expansion in Cambridge’s printing output, especially Bibles, Prayer Books, classical texts, and academic works.

• Was known for using clean, readable roman type, replacing earlier black-letter styles.

• Responsible for numerous editions of the King James Bible between 1673 and 1700.

• Often issued engraved architectural title pages, including the one found in this Bible.

Hayes’ Bibles are admired for their clarity, classic layout, and steady craftsmanship.

Dimensions: