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BASKERVILLE, John - BIBLE; English; Authorized versionBiblio.com

The Holy Bible

1763ref. 184488Cambridge: printed by John Baskerville 1763. An outstanding synthesis of fine printing illustration and binding First Baskerville edition: a spectacular copy of one of the greatest English Bibles and a crowning achievement of English printing in a magnificent Staggemeier and Welcher binding and abundantly extra-illustrated with 287 Old Master engravings. The copy adorned two of the greatest book collections of the last two centuries: the library of the Dukes of Marlborough at Blenheim Palace and of Estelle Doheny in California. Friedrich Leberecht Staggemeier 1759-1827 was esteemed for his elaborately decorated neoclassical bindings. He partnered with Samuel Welcher from 1799 to 1810 and the pair catered to the highest echelons of the market. Extra-illustration was a distinguishing feature of this market: here 171 of the illustrations are from Bernard Picart and Gerard Hoet's Figures de la Bible The Hague 1728 and 58 are from Pierre Mortier's Bible Amsterdam and Antwerp 1700 while others are from Jan Luyken's Icones Biblica Veteris et N. Testamenti Amsterdam 1729 and other sources. The extravagant binding and extra-illustration were commissioned by the first owner the collector and scholar Jacob Bryant. In 1804 he bequeathed the Bible to his patron George Spencer 4th Duke of Marlborough. It remained in the duke's collection at Blenheim Palace until 1881 when it passed to Fanny Octavia Louisa daughter of the 7th duke. Her descendants sold the book and it passed via Dawson's Book Shop to Estelle Doheny one of the greatest collectors of the 20th century where it joined her Gutenberg Bible and other landmarks of printing history. She bequeathed it to St. John's Seminary which sold it and the rest of Doheny's collection in 1988 where it realized $11000. Bound in 2 vols large folio 518 x 343 mm pp. 1146. Extra-illustrated with 287 Old Master engravings of which 198 are single page and 84 double each mounted mostly within a black ink and pale yellow wash frame. Late 18th- or early 19th-century red straight-grain morocco by L. Staggemeier & Welcher of London binder's ticket green morocco labels richly gilt in compartments wide gilt borders to covers gilt Greek-key turn-ins green watered-silk linings with gilt grapevine borders all edges gilt. Joints and extremities restored scattered light offsetting from plates and foxing else contents fresh very minor worming to front endpapers of first volume: a beautiful copy. ESTC T93106; Gaskell 26; Herbert 1146. unknown

Peter Harrington · United Kingdom£37,500.00≈ €44,787.90

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