Beschreibung:

BIBLE, English. The Bible, that is, the Holy Scriptures contained in the Old and New Testament. Amsterdam: Thomas Stafford, 1640. 2 o (358 x 221 mm). Double-column. A few woodcut illustrations in text. (Light marginal dampstaining at end.) ENGLISH RESTORATION BINDING OF BLACK GOATSKIN BY JOHN HOULDON OF CAMBRIDGE, elaborately gilt panelled sides composed of various roll tools and fillets surrounding a central panel with lozenge and corners built up with small tools of rose volutes within leafy tendrils, spine elaboratly gilt in seven compartments with raised bands (some rubbing to lower cover, joints and edges). Provenance : Dorothy Millecut (inscription on front free endpaper); Dorothy Pickering (inscription on front free endpaper); S. Pickering (bookplate); Cambridge, Library of the Episcopal Theological School Cambridge (bookplate). "Geneva version; with Tomson's revised New Testament, and Junius' Revelation. The Apocryphal books, with the exception of the Prayer of Manasses, are omitted, for reasons specified in a note inserted after Malachi. This seems to be the earliest example of an English Bible which deliberately omits the Apocrypha from the list of books" (Darlow & Moule). John Holden was a binder in Cambridge from about 1630 until 1670, and a number of his bindings have been identified. The present, an early binding from his shop, resembles no. 156 in Fine Bindings 1500-1700 from Oxford Libraries , plate 37 and Maggs Catalogue 1075 number 36. A characteristic feature is the use of a small ornament made up of eight impressions of a pointillé gouge together with small circles. Darlow & Moule 424.