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The Illuminated Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments… embellished with sixteen hundred historical engravings…
Description
A well-preserved famous 1846 Harper Illuminated Bible with over 1600 engravings throughout. Frontispiece and illuminated title to each Testament. Table, Index and Concordance at the end. With Apocrypha, as issued.
The work was originally announced in 1843 and was issued in 54 numbers of 25ct each. J.A. Adams, the engraver, is credited with having taken the first electrotype in America from a woodcut. Many illustrations in this Bible are done in this manner. Artists were engaged for more than six years in the preparation of the designs and engravings included in this Bible, at a cost of over $20,000 - a small fortune in those days.
"This Harper publication was a remarkable production in its time and place, and retains its importance in the annals of American bookmaking. W.J. Linton, noted wood-engraver and author, knew 'no other book like this, so good, so perfect in all it undertakes.' The illustrations are like picturings of history, as are so many of the old European Biblical paintings and illustrations." (Hill's 1161)
Engraved title and second printed title in red and black. Title to Apocrypha and New Testament printed in red and black as well. Text in triple column, the middle column a narrow one with notations and glosses. Family records pages between the testaments unmarked. Hundreds of wood-engraved illustrations throughout.
Binding
Full black morocco. Covers paneled in blind and gilt with corner fleurons. Spine with five raised bands, gilt rolls to compartments and the words “Holy Bible” lettered in gilt. Marbled endpapers. Inner dentelles. Rubbed to edges. Front joint worn but holding firm. Hinges reinforced. All edges gilt.
Condition
Gilt remains bright. Occasional, mostly marginal, foxing. A great copy example of an important and extensively illustrated American Bible.