The Bible. embellished with Engravings from Pictures and Designs of the most eminent English Artist. London, printed for Thomas Macklin by Thomas Bensley, 1800: Macklin Bible

SUMMARY

London: Thomas Bensley for Thomas Macklin, 1800. Pulpit folio (19 x 15.5 in). A complete seven volume set "embellished with engravings from pictures and designs by the most eminent English artists." The first edition (1800) of the complete seven volume set published by Thomas Macklin. Complete in seven volumes (the Old Testament in 5, the New Testament in 2).

DESCRIPTION

A lavish edition and one that is and has long been a favorite among Bible collectors. The volumes are very large and heavy. The text is printed in columns almost 14 inches long, embellished by a total of 71 engraved plates and 104 large engraved head- and tailpieces by Landseer, Benjamin West, F. Bartolozzi, J. Heath, W. Skelton, W. Bromley and other have designs by West, Opie, Stothard, W. Hamilton, and De Loutherbourgh.. The plates center mostly on New Testament subjects, and the headpieces to the chapters cover half the page. In the tradition of the English 18th century reforms that introduces well-designed and well-cut typefaces, the typographer has used a good Roman font in a large point size, with only 29 lines to a full column and with two columns per page.

An innovation here is that words normally found in italic type are presented in Roman with a dot below the first letter. Additionally, scattered throughout are single line explanatory "footnotes." Curiously, the work was issued without a true title page, though a half title in Volume I reads 'The Holy Bible" and there are complete divisional title pages for the Old and New Testaments with full imprint information. The largest and by many standards the most impressive Bible in existence.

BINDING

Contemporary full black grained morocco with very broad Greek key within triple filler and blind roll around board edges, center panel with gilt line and floral corners. Beautiful gold embossing with 6-raised bands to the spines. Decorated in gilt "Holy Bible", the volume number (I - VII) and the books of the Bible covered in the volume. All edges gilt, red and gold silk page markers.

PROVENANCE

Front fly leaf has a long list of ex-pupils who presented the Bible to the Rev Thomas Bloxham of Rugby in 1859.

CONDITION

Each volume in this large Bible set boasts a solid restored binding. Wide margins and unmarked pages. Light infrequent damp-staining. Text is overall very clean. Some boards that were rubbed and scuffed have been restored, re-colored and repolished with some loss to gilt in places. Overall a splendid set in an attractive contemporary binding.

REFERENCES

Herbert 1442; ESTC 006391372

Please Note: Due to the size and weight of this set we can only ship this Bible in the continental United States. If you would like it to be shipped elsewhere please contact us first!