Genre

Religious & Spiritual

Format

Leather

Special Attributes

First Edition Second Issue

**Additional photos are available on request.** Importance: The first edition second issue of Dr. Benjamin Blayney’s famous 1769 Oxford standard quarto edition. Editing the King James Bible was a monumental project, and it was first initiated in 1755 after Dr. Samuel Johnson published his first edition English dictionary. The editing was completed in 1762 by Dr. F. S. Paris of Sidney Sussex College (Cambridge) and H. Therold a fellow of Magdalene. In 1762 Dr. Benjamin Blayney of Hertford College was employed by the Clarendon Press to edit Paris’ 1762 King James Bible edition, which would ultimately be completed in 1769. Dr. Blayney incorporated most of Paris’ improvements, increased his marginalia, and repeated not a few of his errors. The result was astounding, this became the most popular edition of the King James Bible, with proof of over 250 years of reprinting. Dr. Blayney notes that the quarto was actually finished first, with the rare folio edition being issued later that same year, printed from the same type, and differently disposed. A manuscript note by Josiah Pratt states that “a great part of the folio edition of 1769 having been destroyed at Woodmason’s fire, a copy of that edition is scarcely to be purchased at any price. A copy of this edition is also very rarely to be met with; sometimes it may be found with a New Testament of later date substituted for that of 1769.” Harry Carter's History of the Oxford University Press praises both the scholarship and typography of the Bible, crediting editor Benjamin Blayney's careful collation of earlier editions for producing "a remarkably correct edition," which the pressmen made "very restful to the eye." This is a Royal Bible since it bears the Royal Coat of Arms of King George III. Which means this copy was associated with the King’s Court, and someone really important once owned it. A remarkably clean large paper copy with unusually thick paper that was finely Ruled-red. It is very rare to find a Bible Ruled in red after 1740. Binding: Thick Large Quarto (13” x 10.5” x 4.625”). 14 lb 14 oz. Modern full fine red morocco leather with relaid contemporary elaborately gilt tooled King George III embossed leather covers with a.e.g. Spine with five raised single blind-lined bands. Second compartment with gilt tooled green morocco leather label and title in capitals HOLY BIBLE. Modern marbled endpapers with a contemporary rear fly-leaf. Covers faded and upper boards’ inner hinge at the head has a minor tear. Comes with a matching clamshell case. Provenance: Late 18th c. monogram bookplate (owners initials) to front paste down RS (Richard Sumner 1751 to 1798). Contemporary rear fly-leaf with genealogical manuscript entries and baptisms of the wealthy Sumner Families. Fairbairn’s Book of Crests (1905 Edition), notes this particular Crest is The Sumner Family Crest. Sumner of Puttenham, Surrey, a Lion’s Head Erased Arg., Ducally Gorged Or. Collation & Notes: OT has [414] ff or [828] pp: A2 ([A1r] G.T.P.), B4, A-Z4, Aa-Zz4, Aaa-Zzz4, Aaaa-Zzzz4, Aaaaa-Kkkkk4 (ends Kkkkk4v). Apocrypha has [96] ff or [192] pp: A-Z4, Aa4 (ends Aa4r). NT has [143] ff or [286] pp: Lllll-Zzzzz4 ([5L1r] T.P.), Aaaaaa-Yyyyyy4, Zzzzzz3 (ends 6U2v & Index ends 6Z3v). Total [653] ff or [1,306] pp. Complete, with two original title pages and Index. Horizontal chain lines. Contemporary rear fly-leaf with vertical chain lines. Darlow & Moule 885, 887, 901. Herbert 1194, 1196, 1220. ESTC records no copies. Revelation 18:22 omitted as in 1769 and no craftsmen, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee;. Condition: Leaves (12.375” x 9.75”). Head slightly bumped. Occasional minor marginal tears (some mended) and edge wear, with light staining (plus from pressed leaves and red ribbon markers). Some foxing in Apocrypha, early in NT, and Index. 6D3v-4r (1”) head corner stain (fades fast). Near the end Index leaves start to darken toward head corners. Contemporary rear fly-leaf remargined.