Biblia, dat is de gantsche H. Schrifture, vervattende alle de canonijcke boecken des Ouden en des Nieuwen Testaments.

With all folding maps finely handcoloured

Biblia, dat is de gantsche H. Schrifture, vervattende alle de canonijcke boecken des Ouden en des Nieuwen Testaments.

Dordrecht, (colophon: printed by) H. and J. Keur and Amsterdam, M. Doornick in compagnie, 1686.

Elephant folio. [20], 302, [2] 134, [11], 164, [2], 66 ff. With 6 folding handcoloured engraved plates (complete) and an engraved title-page.

Contemporary blind-tooled calf with complete copper fittings. Modern calf spine.

Beautifully illustrated copy of the 1686 Dutch "Keur" Bible edition, the standard Bible of the Dutch Reformed Church, corresponding to Luther's version in Germany and King James' Bible in England. This copy with all 6 folding maps nicely contemporary handcoloured, clean and crisp. The plates by Bastiaen Stoopendaal (1637-1707) depict respectively the world (with America and Australia still incomplete); "Paradise" i.e. the Middle East; The Journey of the Children of Israel (Sinai Peninsula and Israel region); city plan of Jerusalem; Canaan (Israel); the Eastern Mediterranean (Turkey, Greece, Italy, Egypt and Cyprus). All maps are surrounded by a highly decorative border. The world map contains classical motifs in the borders that are taken from Berchem's cartouche for Visscher's world map of 1658 (see Shirley 406). The text includes the Old and New Testaments and the Apocrypha at the end. Keur Bibles are known for having the spine break due to the weight of the massive book block. This copy has a professionally replaced strong new leather spine.

Condition: Spine discoloured. First free endpaper misses corner, owner's inscription on second free endpaper. The bottom corner in the middle of the book block is slightly worn without affecting text. A few minor repairs throughout, overall in very good condition.

Reference: Darlow-Moule 3307; Shirley 513.