The Holy Bible : containing the Old and New Testaments, lately translated out of the originall tongues, and with the former translations diligently compared and revised, by His Majesties special command. Appointed to be read in all churches by 17TH CENTURY BIBLE - King James Version

London : Printed by William Bentley, 1648 .. A very good bible in excellent condition. 8vo. 6.75" x 4.75" x 1.50" . Oriiginal 17th century calf preserved and laid-down onto later thin boards. Both boards with central gilt decoration (leather cracked), later blind stamped pattern to board edge. Hinges carefully strengthened and spine rebacked, preserving most of the original binding. Smooth spine with gilt banding and simple gilt decoration. All page edges gilt (now dulled). Later off-white endpapers (19th century handmade paper?). Original free-endpapers with family history details of the Dennis family (1664 - 1712). Printed title within a wood-cut boarder. Old Testament ends with Malachi (no Apocrypha present). More family history details of the Dennis family (1695 - 1765), to the blank facing the New Testament title (also dated 1648), and also to the verso of the said title. A still more family history details (John Paul of St Ives married Elizabeth Dennis of Great Wilbraham, October 13th, 1802 etc. etc.) at the end of Revelation. Bound with: "A Briefe Concordance...N. Bourn and J. Young and are to be sold by Charles Green...1646."; bound with: "The whole Book of Psalms...William Bentley, 1649." Rear free-endpaper with more family history details of the Dennis family (1729 - 1740). Clean Roman letter text in double columns throughout. No tears or missing pages. A well preserved Parliamentarian bible. Referenced by Herbert 607 / Darlow & Moule 471 / Wing STC 2224 .** "The printer William Bentley of Finsbury achieved some fame as the only printer prepared to take on the work of preparing a new, cheap edition of the Bible, as proposed by the Westminster Assembly of Divines, in 1646. The Company of Stationers took strong exception, as did the successors of Richard Barker, Hills and Field, who claimed exclusive rights to Bible printing. The printing of Bibles at length was a privilege conceded to one William Bentley; but he was opposed by Hills and Field; and a paper war arose, in which they mutually recriminated on each other, with equal truth..." - See The Pearl Bibles And Six Thousand Errata by Isaac Disraeli . .