[The King James “She” Bible]. The Holy Bible: Conteyning the Old Testament, and the New: Newly translated out of the Originall Tongues: and with the former Translations diligently compared and reuised by his Maiesties speciall Comandement. Appointed to be Read in Churches.

[BIBLE],.

$125,000.00

Item Number: 145500

London: Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings Most Excellent Majestie, 1613.

Rare 1613 folio edition of the great King James “She” Bible”, “the true 1613 folio edition of King James’ Bible; easily distinguishable from the other large folio editions by its smaller type… The preliminary leaves are set up as in the other large folio editions, but the text is printed in smaller type with 72 instead of 59 lines to the full column” (Herbert; Darlow & Moule). From the library of famed collector Alfred Sutro and decorated with a large fore-edge painting by John T. Beer. Folio, bound in full 19th century paneled calf rebacked with older spine labels preserved, gilt tiles and ruling to the spine in seven compartments within raised banes, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, inner dentelles elaborately stamped in blind, marbled endpapers, text in two columns, 72 lines, black letter, titles within elaborate historiated woodcut borders featuring the twelve tribes, woodcut initials & headpieces, with the opening calendar printed in red and black, the genealogies, and apocrypha, engraved double-page map of the Holy Land by More & Speed, extra-illustrated with 43 engravings by Beilby & Bewick from Ostervald’s Bible (Newcastle, 1782) bound at the appropriate chapter and verse. A4 B4 C6 D4 2A-4M6 4N4 plus A-C6 (Speed’s Genealogies inserted before OT). Decorated with a large disappearing fore-edge painting by John T. Beer depicting two scenes: “Caleb’s daughter pleading for a watered land” and “Christ at the Well of Sychar.” With the erroneous phrase found in the first issue “and he went into the citie” in Ruth 3:15 corrected to “…she went…” Provenance: John T. Beer (1826-1903, fore-edge painting and his sale, Nov 12, 1903, lot 249 sold to William Ridler, bookseller); Alfred Sutro (1869-1945, bookplate); sold to another private collection, 1976. Exhibition: Museum and Gallery, Bob Jones University, Greenville, SC, 2016-2023. Noted collector and early President of the Book Club of California Alfred Sutro commissioned a pamphlet from the Grabhorn Press in 1938 to celebrate this volume. Darlow & Moule 249; Herbert 322; Weber Beer 29. In very good condition with corner repairs to first 15 and final 4 leaves (incl. loss of 2 letters on A2v), corner creasing and a small ink stain to OT title, map laid down and with losses along edges and of lower corners, final leaf trimmed, laid down and with loss of a few letters, front free endpaper started, gift inscription. An exceptionally rare, complete and unique example of perhaps the most influential text in the English language.

"From about the middle of the seventeenth century until the appearance of the Revised Bible of 1881-5, the King James version reigned without rival" (Herbert 319). One of the most influential texts in the English language, Thomas Macaulay anointed it "a book, which if everything else in our language should perish, would alone suffice to show the whole extent of its beauty and power" (PMM 114). The official work of translation was undertaken by nearly 50 scholars over the span of 1604 to 1611, but it can be seen as the culmination of nearly a century of work, beginning with William Tyndale's New Testament translations, and including the bibles of Coverdale and Whitchurch, the Bishops' Bible, the Geneva Bible, and the Rheims New Testament. "Appointed to be read in Churches," the Great "He" Bible was exposed to public usage (on lecterns) and almost all surviving copies have suffered some manner of damage or loss.