Bible (English; Authorised). The Holy Bible. Containing the Bookes of the Old and New Testament, Cambridge: John Field, [1660]. 2 volumes, large folio (457 x 290 mm), contemporary red goatskin gilt by Samuel Mearne, spines richly gilt in compartments incorporating the royal cipher of Charles II, each cover gilt with 24 impressions of the royal cipher in two different sizes between concentric floral and fillet rolls, comb-marbled endpapers, all edges and turn-ins gilt, pp. [16] 680; [2] 681-1103 [1] 1-258 [2], [2] 1-338, signatures [par.]-2[par.]4 A-3K6 3L4; pi1 3M-4Y6 4Z8 a-x6 y4 (y4=blank), A-2D6 2E8, ruled in red throughout, engraved general title-page to volume 1 by Lombart after Diepenbeeck depicting Solomon enthroned (undated), volume 2 with letterpress general title-page ('The Second Part of the Holy Bible', dated 1660) and letterpress New Testament title-page (dated 1659), engraved arms of Charles II by Hollar to each volume, 118 engraved plates mainly by Visscher or Le Blond after Heemskerck, de Bruyn, de Vos, Coninxloo, Potter and others (mainly double-page, and including a folding panorama of Jerusalem on two sheets), engraved double-page map by Hollar (facing volume 1 p. 298). Bindings variably scuffed and rubbed, superficial score-marks, ties possibly renewed, occasional light browning to contents, volume 1 with closed tear in C2, plate at p. 12 with closed tear in gutter and fraying along top edge, plate at p. 468 with split to foot of central fold, volume 2 with short closed tears in pi1 (divisional title-page), a1, D4 and N6, closed transverse tear through P2 to no loss of text, marginal nicks or tears to a few plates (e.g. facing pp. 872, 1008 and 138), and a longer closed tear and marginal fraying to panorama of Jerusalem (qty: 2)

Darlow & Moule (1903 edition) 525; ESTC R17044. A splendid copy of the illustrated reissue by John Ogilby of John Field's two-volume folio Bible of 1659, in contemporary red goatskin by Samuel Mearne (1624-1683), royal binder to the restored Charles II. According to Darlow and Moule the reissue had a new general title-page dated 1660 and reading 'illustrated wth Chorographical Sculps by J. Ogilby'. Our copy appears to retain the original general title-page, as it is undated and does not contain the reference to Ogilby, and it does not contain the dedication leaf to Charles II noted in some other copies. The number of plates is known to vary; ESTC calls for a total of 102 only.

Provenance: Sir Richard Fanshawe, 1st Baronet (1608-1666), diplomat, poet, translator and prominent royalist; given by him to Sir Edmund Turnor (1619-1707) of Stoke Rochford, Lincolshire, with Turnor's engraved bookplate (dated 1702) and 18th-century ink inscription 'A present to Sir Edm. Turnor from the Rt Hon. Sir Richd Fanshawe' to the initial blank of each volume (volume two with additional 20th-century annotation 'his brother-in-law, Ambassador at the Court of Spain').