Genre

Religious & Spiritual

Format

Leather

Title

The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

**Full Description & More Photos On Request** Importance “The aim of those who produced King James's, or the Authorized, Version of the Bible was not to produce a new translation, but to make a good one better. It was a continuation, a refinement, a synthesis of all that had gone before. The greatest monument of English prose, no book has had greater influence on the English language or on the character of English-speaking people…” (Thomas, Alan G. Great Books and Book Collectors. Spring Books, 1988, p. 110.) The early history of the historical stand-alone King James New Testaments starts with the printing of the first 1611 duodecimo format (Herbert 310), which was the first single column printed, with only 3 copies in a private collection and 3 recorded institutional holdings. Finally, the printing of the first 1612 quarto format (Herbert 318), which was the second single column printed. The quarto in particular is said to have been printed under the direction of Lancelot Andrews (1555 to 1626), at the proposal of King James I (1566 to 1625), within a few months after the famous 1611 HE folio King James Bible was printed (Herbert 309). The folio was printed in double column and restricted to the pulpits of the English churches by chain, along with its enormous size and weight, to prevent theft. Brake-Hellstern 2017 worldwide census indicates there are 198 copies of these folios, and auction records show a complete folio was last sold in 2016 for $396,500. New Testaments focused on the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, while at the same time eliminating the extra bulk of having an Old Testament. New Testaments like the 1557 Geneva in octavo format (Herbert 106) offered copious summaries and marginal references with commentaries, while the 1612 King James in quarto format was more barebones and stayed so with other editions. The quarto was the perfect format, size, and weight for personal reading and study while traveling, with its large Black letter type size for the older eyes or people with visual impairments, and its design and layout in single column for a smoother reading experience of the Word of God, unlike what the dictionary style (the traditional double columns) offered. Presented here is a once in a life time opportunity to own a distinguished copy of the stand-alone 1612 quarto King James New Testament. Featuring the rare 1620 BCP with the 1622 PGB, and the 1621 WBP (together as thick as the New Testament). This copy is far more rarer than the 1611 HE folio King James Bible, and is offered only at a quarter of what a folio typically would sell for at retail price. Binding ”Don’t judge a book by its covers.” Thick Quarto (about 7.5”-8” Tall x 7.5” Wide x 3.125” Thick). Weighs 2 lb 15 oz. Rebacked early 18th c. one-off crudely blind tooled & cut full fine dark brown tanned limp calf leather binding with a.e.b. The current binding style is called a limp leather binding, where the covering material (commonly vellum) was stiffened only with pastedowns rather than with traditional boards, which explains its unusual stiffness & thickness (about 3.5 mm or 2 USA pennies). Covers with blind tooled panels (with double-lined fillets), framed inner panels, & centerpieces. Lower cover larger in width & height than upper cover, retained. Sympathetic modern baggy toned brown calfskin leather spine with blind tooled double-lined fillets around the four raised bands & saddle stitched ends. The original leather spine is too stiff & thick to be pared down, & conformed to the resewn text blocks spine due to the new sewing thickness & substantial debris cleared. Originally the spine was flat & without cords, but these cords made it possible to attach the textblock to the original leather covers without the need to rebind. Covers cracks reinforced on flesh side with rope pulp; sympathetic blue endpapers & sympathetic fly-leaves (averting acid migration), with original blue pastedowns relaid. Original crude brilliant brass cornerpieces (decorated with etched lines) & catch plate, lightly cleaned. Sympathetic modern center leather strap, brass hasp & strap plate, & black tacking nails (replacing old rusted trefoil lead nails). Original black painted edges lightly restored, perhaps originally done with carbon black powder as there was an intense accumulation in the inner margins of some quires. Without endbands, as originally, therefore can’t be shelved vertically. Sympathetic modern quarter fine brown calfskin leather clamshell case with brown cloth boards. Rounded spine with four similarly blind tooled double-lined fillets & saddle stitched ends.

Special Attributes

1st edition