Commemorative Diamond Jubilee Bible

5RR King James Version, Bound by Sangorski & Sutcliffe. London, 2012. No. 19 of 60.

Notes

The Commemorative Diamond Jubilee Bible, printed 60 years after the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, was created to mark the significant milestone of her 60th year on the throne in 2012. This edition was produced as a tribute to her long and historic reign, celebrating her service and dedication to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. The Bible is a specially crafted edition of the King James Version (KJV), and it includes features reflecting the solemnity of the occasion, such as high-quality binding, decorative elements, and illustrations that connect the themes of the Bible to the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

What sets the Diamond Jubilee Bible apart from other editions is its symbolic connection to Queen Elizabeth II's reign. It contains commemorative elements, including a preface celebrating her achievements and her reign's historical context. It also often includes special inserts, images, and illustrations reflecting both the Bible's religious significance and the unique role of the monarchy in British society. The Bible's printing and production were meant to mark the historic nature of the Diamond Jubilee, offering both a spiritual and historical artifact for the people of the UK and the Commonwealth. Additionally, the Bible was released as a limited edition, making it a collector's item that links religious heritage with the nation's royal legacy.

Sangorski & Sutcliffe has partnered with the Folio Society to publish the book, which is limited to 60 editions on the approval of the Lord Chamberlain’s office. This one is numbered by hand as number 19. Sangorski & Sutcliffe Is England’s oldest surviving hand bookbinding company. They approached the Folio Society to publish the edition, who agreed that its binding of the King James Bible would be ideal for the commemorative Bible.

The owner of Sangorski & Sutcliffe, Robert Shepherd said: “An important commission for Sangorski & Sutcliffe was securing the contract to bind the Coronation Bible, the Bible on which the Queen was to swear her oath of allegiance to her country in 1953. The aim of the Jubilee Bible is to acknowledge the spirit of the original design and at the same time convey the significance and tremendous achievement of th eQueen’s sixty years on the throne.” 

Description

Premium red calf leather binding with each of the two volumes housed in their own specially designed slipcase. The two-volume set’s design is a modern update of the original Coronation creation by artist Lynton Lamb. The central lozenge form the 1952 book is repeated and rotated to create a diamond on the front and back boards of the Diamond Jubilee edition, tooled in 22-carat gold lead with onlays of fair calf leather. 30 smaller conical diamonds cut by the binder’s gold finisher using a brass hand-tool specially created for the Jubilee edition surround each diamond. Specially made tools used solely for the original ceremony Bible have been reinstated to embellish the binding of the Diamond Jubilee Bible with Royal Insignia and lettering finished in gold. Watered ivory silk endpapers with elegant gilt dentelles. All edges gilt. Three silk page markers in red, white, and blue. Pristine condition.