The Holy Bible,

the fourth distinct folio edition in full red morocco gilt

A rare complete example of the fourth distinct folio edition of the King James Bible, printed in large black-letter type, and beautifully bound in red morocco gilt.

Following his accession to the throne of England in 1603 King James VI & I commissioned a new translation of the Bible into English that would use the best available translations and sources, and importantly, be free of biased footnotes and commentaries. To this end he convened the Hampton Court Conference in 1604 where the new English version was conceived.

The resulting translation is widely considered a towering achievement in English literature, as both beautiful and scholarly. It has contributed numerous idioms to English, more than any other single source, including Shakespeare: examples include feet of clay and reap the whirlwind.

Fourth distinct folio edition; folio (42 x 28.5 cm); titles within elaborate woodcut borders, woodcut initials and headpieces, calendar printed in red and black, black-letter type, good margins throughout, general title with small repair to lower left margin just touching corner of printed area, a few small sprinkled single wormholes to title and preliminary ff, minor tape repair to margin of 9ff, final f. re-margined and with old tape repairs; modern full gilt-panelled red morocco, gilt spine in 7 compartments, a fine example; foliation: A4 B4 C6 D4 A-6D6.

ESTC S693; Herbert 487.