Offered here is an exceptional and highly uncommon early King James Bible, printed in London, 1634 -1635, and custom-bound as a luxury devotional volume with extensive hand red-ruling and a complete 76-plate engraved Marian and Christological cycle printed in Antwerp in 1630.
This is not a standard Bible, but a bespoke composite volume, assembled in the 17th century for a wealthy owner and preserved substantially intact. Examples of this calibre, particularly in duodecimo format with a full continental engraving suite, are rarely encountered on the open market.
Condition:
- Complete
- Some foxing can be found
- Some staining can be found
- Manuscript wrapping has tears in it
- All title pages present
- All ancillary books present
Carefully inspect photos, feel free to ask for additional pictures.
Contents:
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John Speed, Genealogies Recorded in the Sacred Scriptures - London, 1633
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The Holy Bible (Authorized / King James Version):
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Complete Antwerp engraved devotional suite - 76 leaves, dated 1630
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A Briefe Concordance to the Bible of the Last Translation - London, 1630
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The Whole Book of Psalms (metrical Psalms, Sternhold & Hopkins) - 1635
The Antwerp Marian - Christological Engraving Cycles (1630)
This Bible contains a complete and continuous engraved cycle of 76 plates, printed in Antwerp in 1630, beginning with the Annunciation and concluding with the Assumption of the Virgin.
Highlights of the engraving suite:
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Life of the Virgin Mary: Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity, Dormition, Assumption
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Life of Christ: Nativity, Ministry, Miracles, Parables
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Passion & Crucifixion cycle
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Resurrection and post-Resurrection scenes
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Plates numbered 1 through 76, confirming completeness
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Original engraved title page present
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Latin captions beneath each image
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Copperplate engravings of high artistic quality, typical of Antwerp devotional studios
This is the largest and most complete form of this devotional cycle.
Most surviving examples today are fragmentary, broken up for individual prints, or separated into Marian-only or Christ-only sequences. A fully intact 76-plate set, especially one bound into a Bible, is genuinely rare.
Legal Manuscript Wrapper with Transcription:
The binding incorporates a reused legal manuscript wrapper, consisting of a fragment from an English legal or contractual document, likely dating to the early–mid 17th century. The manuscript is written in a contemporary legal hand and preserves standard contractual language typical of deeds, indentures, or covenants of the period.
Such reuse of obsolete legal documents as binding material was a common and accepted practice in early modern England, particularly for strengthening covers or wrappers during binding or rebinding.
Partial Transcription as can be seen:
“… assigns and every Covenant …
… he the said [C—pe?] his … assigns and every …
… shall from time to time and at all times hereafter for ever …
… mentioned or expressed or contained in these presents …
… mentioned and for and in consideration of the sum …
… of lawful money of Great Britain … the said John Parry …
… to be paid by the said John Parry at or before the …
… the payment of the same as aforesaid he the said [C—pe] doth …
… his part and … assigns and administrators …”
Why This Bible Is Special?
This volume represents a known but uncommon 17th-century practice: the creation of luxury composite devotional Bibles.
In early-modern England:
Antwerp was the leading European centre for copperplate engraving, and English binders frequently imported Flemish devotional prints to elevate Protestant Bibles for private use.
Although the engravings were produced in a Catholic context, their subject matter, the lives of Christ and the Virgin, was considered universally Christian, not doctrinally controversial. Such illustrated Bibles were intended for private devotion, not public church use.
This book is therefore not only a Bible, but a material record of 17th-century religious culture, art trade, and bookbinding practice.
Rarity & Collectability
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Extensive hand red-ruling, including triple rules
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Complete 76-plate Antwerp engraving suite
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All major ancillary texts present
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A coherent, historically intact luxury composite Bible
Comparable examples can be held by institutions. Complete examples with this engraving suite are seldom seen.
Dimensions:
Weight - 980g
Height - 17.5cm
Width - 12cm
Thickness - 6.5m
