A DESCRIPTION OF THE GREAT BIBLE, 1539, AND THE SIX EDITIONS OF CRANMER'S BIBLE 1540 AND 1541, printed by Grafton and Whitchurch: by FRY, FRANCIS, F.S.A.:

London, Willis and Sotheran, 1865.. also of the editions, in large folio, of the authorized version of the Holy Scriptures, printed in the years 1611, 1613, 1617, 1634, 1640... Illustrated with titles, and with passages from the editions, the genealogies, and the maps, copied in facsimile; also with an identification of every leaf of the first seven, and of many leaves of the other editions; on fifty-one plates. Together with an ORIGINAL LEAF of each of the editions described, PLUS AN EXTRA ORIGINAL LEAF OF THE SECOND TITLE PAGE OF THE GREAT BIBLE, this title page is illustrated in the book, illustration ll No. 4, 1540, printed in red and black, the page has had the margins trimmed off and has been laid down on thicker paper, see image attached to listing. FIRST EDITION 1865. Folio, approximately 420 x 275 mm, 16½ x 11 inches, title page vignette of Bishop Cranmer, small vignette of Cotham Tower on verso dedication page, decorated initials, pictorial headpieces, pages: viii, 41, (3), 51 numbered plates, 2 tables (1 folded) and 14 original leaves from the Bibles described, bound in 19th century quarter leather over marbled boards, 4 gilt rules, a single small gilt ornament and gilt lettering, marbled endpapers. Just slightly rubbed at head and tail of spine, corners worn with slight loss of marbled paper, closed tear to lower inner corner of folding table, contents very clean and bright, binding tight and firm. A very good copy. Plate 1 is a full size reproduction in red and black of the splendid pictorial title page of the Great Byble of 1539, recto and verso, Plate 34 is a reproduction of the pictorial title to the first edition of the Authorised King James Version of 1611, both with tissue guards, the rest of plates consist, with several images per page printed red and black, of comparisons between various features of the Bibles described: engravings, ornaments, initials, headpieces, headers, Kalendars, title pages, genealogies, textual differences, etc. The 14 original leaves each have a small label pasted in the lower margin printed with the date of the Bible it is from, starting with 1539, Numbers; April 1540 St. Luke; July 1540 Judges; November 1540 Numbers; May 1541 Ezechiel; November 1541 Numbers; December 1541 Salomon; 1st issue 1611 Psalmes; 2nd issue 1611 Psalmes; 2nd issue reprints 1611 Psalmes; 1613 Job; 1617 Psalmes; 1634 Psalmes; 1640 Ezekiel. First leaf trimmed at the top with loss of part of heading, otherwise all 14 original leaves in very good state. "Most copies (of the Great Bibles of 1539-41) appear to be mixed; doubtless, many copies were originally issued in this state. The problem is further complicated by the fact that certain leaves of some editions were reprinted, apparently because the supply of these particular leaves had run short and they were required to complete copies then being made up.... Fry attempted to ascertain what leaves properly belonged to each edition and to make a list of the 'reprinted leaves' ... his work remains a monument of painstaking research". Herbert, The English Bible 1525-1961, page 25-26. MORE IMAGES ATTACHED TO THIS LISTING, ALL ZOOMABLE. FURTHER IMAGES ON REQUEST. POSTAGE AT COST.