732 leaves. A-B4, C6, D4, A-5Z6, 6A-6D6. 15½x10¾" (Folio) 20th century calf, gilt-lettered spine. Printed in double columns; blackletter script. Fourth folio edition.
Fourth folio edition of the King James Bible, also known as the Authorized Version, is the most important title in the English-language canon. It was a massive undertaking, with the approximately 50 translators “divided into six companies, each company being responsible for a certain section of the scriptures. The results of their several labors were subjected to mutual criticism, and then underwent nine months’ final revision by a representative committee of six members” (Herbert, 130). Built upon the foundation of the Tyndale, Matthew, Coverdale and Geneva bibles, the KJV was a volume of premier scholarship and academic rigor that “won its way by sheer merit, until gradually it displaced even the Geneva Bible in popular affection, and established itself as the sole recognized version of the Scriptures in English” (ibid., 131). While we call the KJV the most important title in the English-language canon, it is of course closely rivaled by the works of Shakespeare. Both saw numerous reprintings in quarto and folio format, which collectors and scholars hold in varying states of esteem (the four folios of Shakespeare and the five of the King James Bible being most desirable), and both have exerted lasting and undeniable influence on Western culture.
Carter in Printing and the Mind of Man (1983) writes that “the effect of the continual domestic study of [the King James Bible] upon the national character, imagination and intelligence for nearly three centuries to come was greater than that of any literary movement in our annals, or any religious movement since the coming of St. Augustine” (PMM 114). Moreover, just like the four folios of Shakespeare, those of the KJV are highpoints in any collection, with the fourth black letter edition probably the hardest to locate of the 1611, 1611/13, 1617, 1634, and 1640/39 printings. Only a handful have appeared at auction over the last 10 years, all in various states of disrepair. Darlow & Moule 487; PMM 114. An internally outstanding and unsophisticated copy, a notable point as Darlow & Moule write that “the large type folio editions of this Bible closely resemble each other… [and] agree so closely that the leaves practically always end with the same word and are practically interchangeable “ (Herbert, 133).
Condition:
This copy has some old dampstaining through much of the text, a point especially notable given the previous quote (Herbert, 133)—without this staining, we could not be so sure of this book’s correctness. 5Z3 is torn at the lower-right corner with loss affecting (5) lines of text, and 6D5-6D6 (the Book of Revelations) have a (4) mm hole affecting a few letters of text but none of the sense. The general title page is a wonderful copperplate engraving with a bit more wear and discoloration than that of the New Testament (as expected), but the text is on the whole remarkably clean; very good.