Holy Bible 1853

6B Complete with Old and New Testaments. The Ruby Reference Bible. London: William Collins, 1853

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.

The Ruby Reference Bible is a beautifully produced edition of the Holy Bible, distinguished by its compact format, fine typography, and extensive system of cross-references designed to aid biblical study. The term “Ruby” refers to a traditional small type size used in printing, allowing the complete biblical text and supplementary references to be presented in a conveniently portable volume.

Description

Deep red leather boards with blind stamping. Five raised bands and blind stamping in each compartment with gilt lettering in second compartment. Gilt turn-ins. Marbled endpapers. All edges gilt. Some bumping to corners and rubbing down to color of leather on extremeties. Pencil markings on final endpaper and ink inscription to first free endpaper. Fine condition.