The Holy Bible, Old & New Testaments, King James Version, c. 1845, Four Cathedral Fore-Edge Paintings

"The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments: Translated Out Of The Original Tongues: and With The Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised, By His Majesty's Special Command. Appointed to be Read in Churches. Vertical Fore-Edge Paintings of 4 Cathedrals, Durham, Salisbury, Canterbury, and Worcester" published circa 1845 in Oxford by University Press, John Collingwood and Co. This handsome folio Bible is particularly notable for its double fore-edge paintings, revealing four cathedral scenes when the split fore-edge is fanned open: Canterbury and Worcester Cathedrals on the left side, and Durham and Salisbury Cathedrals on the right.

Folio (9.5" x 12"), bound in full dark brown leather with bright, elaborate gilt-rule framing to both boards. The spine features five raised bands, gilt lettering in the second compartment, and elaborate gilt decoration within framed compartments, with “Oxford” gilt at the foot. All edges are gilt.

The binding shows minimal shelfwear. There is foxing to the first and last few leaves, while the remainder appears clean. A five-line gift inscription in old ink on the first free flyleaf is dated January 1845, followed by approximately twenty lines of family history on the verso. Four additional pages of family history appear between the Old and New Testaments. The Bible includes the Apocrypha.

A remarkable Victorian-era Bible combining fine Oxford binding, four cathedral fore-edge paintings, and extensive contemporary family provenance.