729 (of 732) leaves plus inserted genealogies. A6, B2, C6, D4; A-Zzzz6, Aaaaa-Ccccc6; 2A-2Z6, 2Aa6; (-A1-2, -2Aa6). Woodcut initials, a few headpieces; elaborate woodcut title-page for New Testament. (folio)39.7x25.5 cm. (15¾x10"), period calf over wooden boards, with metal corner protectors and central lozenge, metal clasps (with new leather hinges), rebacked with modern calf, new endpapers and flyleaves. First Edition, first issue.
A rare and handsome copy of “The Great He Bible”, one of the supreme and most sought after works of the English language. Commonly known as the Authorized Version, the King James Bible is undoubtedly the most influential of all English language versions of the Bible. The work of nearly fifty translators working in six groups, the King James Bible has been called “the only literary masterpiece ever to have been produced by a committee”; and indeed, the work is aptly called “the noblest monument of English prose.” So powerful was the force and beauty of its language, no new English translation of the Bible was produced until the Revised Version of 1881. The Genealogies, here inserted before the first page of the Old Testament, were separately produced by John Speed, and sold by him under license to purchasers of the Bible; they are not found in all copies. Speed also separately offered for sale a double-page map of the Holy Land, lacking in many copies, and not present here. The true first edition of the King James Bible, this Bible is called the Great “He” Bible because of its incorrect reading in Ruth iii: 15 – a reading corrected in the second edition of 1613-11 (the Great “She” Bible). STC 2216; Herbert 309; PMM 114.
Condition:
Lacking the title-page, the first leaf of dedication, leaves A2 and A5 of the Genealogies, and most of the final leaf of text. The first four leaves (A3-6) creased with margins repaired and extended, several holes most of which are repaired; repair to lower margin of Dddd3r affecting a word or two of last line of text; repair to 2O6r affecting lower border but no text; last several leaves with some creasing and wear, lower corners of 2Aa3-4 torn off affecting just a few letters, leaf 2Aa5 with repair to lower margin; some light finger soiling to lower corners; the leaf with Ruth iii: 15, and the facing leaf, are slightly toned from being displayed over the years. A Handsome and unusually complete copy of this great book.