Victorian Family Bible

6B Complete with Old and New Testaments. London: The National Comprehensive Family Bible, ca.1870. 

Notes

The Holy Bible has been one of the most widely printed books in history, with the advent of the printing press in the fifteenth century—most notably the Gutenberg Bible—marking a turning point in its dissemination. Over the centuries, English translations such as the King James Version of 1611 became central to religious life in the English-speaking world. By the nineteenth century, advances in industrial printing and publishing greatly increased the availability of Bibles, allowing them to be produced in a wide range of formats. This period saw a shift from purely ecclesiastical texts to volumes intended for personal and household use, reflecting both the growing literacy of the population and the importance of the Bible as a fixture in everyday family life.

Victorian family Bibles, particularly those produced in the mid-to-late nineteenth century, were often designed as substantial and visually impressive volumes intended to be displayed and preserved within the home. Produced in large numbers to meet high demand, Victorian family Bibles remain valued today for their decorative appeal and intimate glimpse they offer into the lives and histories of the families who owned them.

Description

Black leather binding with brass metal clasps and corners. Both clasps function properly. Four raised bands with gilt lettering in second compartment. Inlaid title on upper board with gilt lettering. Full-page engraved plates from original paintings throughout. Gilt edges. Including page with the Lords Prayer before New Testament with several translations in other languages. Foxing in margins of illustrations. Rebacked spine. Very good condition.