Bible. English. Authorized. 1844.
The imperial family Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, according to the most approved copies of the authorized version. With many thousand critical, explanatory, and practical notes ... illustrated by a superb series of engravings ...
Glasgow, Blackie and Son, 1844.
2 v. ill. 38 cm.
Acquired through the Albert M. Bender Fund.
First edition of this version, a handsomely produced large folio Bible, distinguished by its illustrations, its ornate contemporary binding, and its typeface. The most unusual feature of the layout of this edition is the placement of the commentary in an extremely narrow strip between the two regular columns of text; the preface mentions that the commentary in this Bible has been compressed as “far as perspicuity would admit,” and the idea of this compression is reinforced visually in the design of the page. The illustrations here are eclectic, with artists ranging from Titian to P.J. De Loutherbourg, R.A.; the ones by John Martin are the most memorable.