The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments: together with the Apocrypha (Bible in English) Americana

First Edition. 48 engraved plates [complete]. 1310, [2], 89, [3]pp. Separate OT and NT titles. The family register between the Apocrypha and NT unaccomplished. Royal quarto. Thomas' quarto bible was published in three distinct issues: with 2 copperplates only (i.e. frontispieces to the Old and New Testaments); with two copperplates and John Brown's 89-page concordance in the rear; and, the rarest and most deluxe form (as here), with 48 copperplates and the concordance. Of this last issue, according to Thomas's catalogue, the work was published "in elegant binding." The explanation for the work being complete with 48 plates, rather than the 50 plates of the folio Thomas bible of the same year, is easily explained: the frontispieces used for the folio bible (plates I and XXXIII) were too large for the quarto edition, and thus were omitted, with plates XXIX and XLVIII used as frontispieces of the quarto bible instead. A very difficult edition to find in a contemporary, unsophisticated binding. Evans 23185; Hills 30; ESTC W4496 Contemporary calf, covers ruled in gilt, spine gilt with raised bands, red morocco lettering piece, marbled endpapers, joints cracked but cords holding, worn at extremities, spine a bit abraded with some loss at top. Foxing, a few leaves with short tears or small voids. Provenance: Ebenezer Byles (signature on verso of the OT title). Housed in a blue cloth clamshell box 48 engraved plates [complete]. 1310, [2], 89, [3]pp. Separate OT and NT titles. The family register between the Apocrypha and NT unaccomplished. Royal quarto