KJV Bible Cambridge Large Folio Dated 1638, Double Red Lined W/ Black Morocco
$ 6648.18
Description
Magnificent Cambridge Large Folio 1638 King James Bible Double Red-Ruled Text • Contemporary Black Morocco Gilt Binding • Complete & Exceptionally Clean Description We are pleased to offer a superb and beautifully preserved Cambridge Large Folio King James Bible , printed in 1638 . This is one of the most visually striking and desirable folio editions of the 17th century, featuring double red ruling , an elaborate engraved title page , and a splendid contemporary English black morocco binding richly gilt. This copy stands out for its extraordinary cleanliness, crisp paper, strong impressions, and wide margins — a remarkable survivor from the Caroline era. Key Features Cambridge University Press, 1638 Complete Bible: Old Testament, Apocrypha , New Testament, and Psalms. Double Red-Lined (Double Ruled) Text Every leaf ruled neatly in red — a premium treatment reserved for high-status presentation and luxury copies. Engraved Architectural Title Page Featuring angels, apostolic figures, the Tetragrammaton, the Last Supper, and panels of Moses and King David. Contemporary English Black Morocco Binding Rebound in a sympathetic binding, retaining the grandeur of the morocco binding. Full gilt decoration Double gilt rule borders Gilt floral and scrollwork corners Large central gilt lozenge panel Raised bands with gilt compartments Strong, tight boards with an elegant period aesthetic Internal Condition Clean, bright, well-margined pages No inscriptions, ownership marks, or family records Crisp impressions and minimal aging Occasional foxing/staining Historical Context England in the Late 1630s The year 1638 falls during the final years of the personal reign of King Charles I , a period often termed the Personal Rule or the “Eleven Years’ Tyranny,” when Parliament was dissolved and the monarch governed alone. Key features of the era: Religious Climate Archbishop William Laud was enforcing strict uniformity in worship, refining liturgy, and encouraging beauty, order, and ceremony — reflected in the luxury and precision seen in contemporary Bibles. Cambridge scholars were deeply involved in revising and standardizing biblical texts. Puritan tensions were rising; many were emigrating to New England, carrying earlier KJV printings with them. Political Situation England stood on the brink of the Bishops' Wars against Scotland (which would begin in 1639), events that would ultimately lead to the English Civil War. Printing & Scholarship Cambridge University Press was undergoing a significant expansion and modernization of its printing operations. The production of large-format, scholarly Bibles was a statement of learning, authority, and stability during an increasingly unsettled time. A 1638 Cambridge folio Bible is thus a physical artefact of the final years of peace before the nation fractured into war. History of Cambridge Printings of the King James Bible Cambridge University Press played a central role in the refinement and stabilization of the King James Version during the 17th century. Early Printing History The original KJV text (1611) was primarily associated with London printers. Cambridge began printing the KJV in the 1620s, gradually emerging as a center of scholarship and textual correction. Why the 1638 Edition Matters The 1638 Cambridge revision is the most important 17th-century scholarly correction of the KJV prior to the 1762/1769 standardizations. It was undertaken by a committee of Cambridge scholars, including Francis Sawyer Parris ’s predecessors, who refined spelling, punctuation, and wording based on earlier manuscript traditions. Key points: The 1638 edition introduced numerous careful corrections to the 1611 text. It is widely recognized as the most accurate pre-Restoration printing of the KJV. Large folio copies were expensive, prestigious objects typically owned by churches, institutions, and wealthy households. Copies with double red ruling and luxury bindings such as this would have been custom-ordered for display and ceremonial use. A complete , clean , wide-margined , double-ruled , contemporary morocco example such as the present copy is extremely scarce. Condition Summary Exceptionally clean, complete, and well-margined Contemporary black morocco with elaborate gilt decoration Double red-ruled text throughout No inscriptions, annotations, or family records Strong binding, crisp paper, and minimal wear This is a truly distinguished example of a landmark Cambridge printing. Dimensions: Weight - 5.14KG Height - 40 cm Width - 24.5 cm Thickness - 8 cm
Item arrived much better than described and is such a privilege to own, ty as this probably cost you more to send than I paid (honestly, I expected the item to be of much, much poorer quality for the prise!), well packaged and shipped fast. would encourage anyone to buy from this person! A +++
I pressed wrong knob and declined your 1st offer by mistake , so thanks for agreeing same price , it was very decent of you . Kind regards and thanks , waiting for it to be delivered Tomorrow Ann
Way better quality than expected, truly a masterpiece of the work, super fast shipping, very reasonable seller, good packaging and exactly is described
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