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A remarkably well-preserved Victorian pocket Holy Bible printed in London in 1849 by G. E. Eyre & W. Spottiswoode, Printers to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, and housed in an exceptional original black moulded papier-mâché Gothic Revival binding complete with its gilt brass frame, decorative brass clasp, and all edges gilt.
Far more than an ordinary Victorian Bible, this volume is an outstanding example of nineteenth-century decorative bookbinding. The deeply moulded covers imitate carved Gothic tracery, while the spine is similarly decorated in relief with the title Holy Bible. The binding retains its original brass mounts surrounding both boards, together with its substantial clasp, creating an appearance reminiscent of a medieval treasure binding in miniature.
The quality of the moulding is particularly striking, with remarkably crisp architectural ornament surviving across both covers and spine. Combined with the gilt metal furniture and marbled endpapers, the volume demonstrates the high standard of craftsmanship achieved by Victorian decorative binders during the height of the Gothic Revival.
The design bears a close resemblance to bindings associated with Henry Noel Humphreys, one of the Victorian era\'s foremost designers of illuminated books and decorative bindings. Humphreys was renowned for adapting medieval and Gothic motifs into richly ornamented bindings, and this example shares many of those characteristic features. However, no binder\'s ticket or signed mark is present, and therefore the attribution cannot be made with certainty. It is equally possible that the binding was produced by one of the anonymous specialist trade binders working for Eyre & Spottiswoode during the period.
Regardless of the precise workshop responsible, this remains an exceptional survival from the golden age of Victorian decorative binding.
Condition:
- Original black moulded papier-mâché binding retaining exceptionally crisp relief decoration throughout.
- Complete with original gilt brass frame
- decorative brass clasp
- gilt page edges
- Marbled endpapers remain bright and attractive.
- The text is clean and complete with only light age toning
- The binding has been rebacked. Under the original papier-mache is canvas reinforced
Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form part of the description.
History of the Time:
Printed in 1849, this Bible emerged during one of the most fascinating periods of Victorian Britain. Queen Victoria had occupied the throne for little more than a decade, while Britain stood at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution. Railways connected the nation, advances in printing technology made books increasingly accessible, and London\'s Fleet Street had become one of the world\'s great centres of publishing.
The year before this Bible was printed, Europe had been shaken by the Revolutions of 1848, which swept across France, the German states, Austria, and Italy. While much of continental Europe experienced political upheaval, Britain remained comparatively stable, continuing its rapid industrial and commercial expansion.
At the same time, Victorian society embraced the Gothic Revival, inspired by the architecture of medieval cathedrals and the ideals promoted by figures such as Augustus Pugin. This movement extended far beyond architecture into furniture, jewellery, metalwork, and bookbinding. Decorative bindings such as this one sought to recreate the beauty and permanence of medieval craftsmanship, transforming even small personal Bibles into objects of artistic merit.
Papier-mâché became an ideal material for this purpose. Strong, lightweight, and capable of taking extraordinarily detailed impressions, it allowed manufacturers to create richly ornamented bindings that imitated carved wood or leather while remaining practical for everyday use.
About G. E. Eyre & W. Spottiswoode:
George Edward Eyre and William Spottiswoode served as Her Majesty\'s Printers, holding the prestigious appointment as official printers to the Crown. From their Fleet Street premises they produced official government publications, Prayer Books, and millions of Authorized Version Bibles throughout the nineteenth century.
Although Eyre & Spottiswoode printed the biblical text, many of their finest editions were bound by specialist trade workshops, resulting in an extraordinary variety of decorative publisher\'s bindings. This example represents one of the most elaborate styles produced during the period, combining high-quality printing with exceptional Victorian - 285g
Height - 12.2cmWidth - 8.4cmThickness - 3.5cm
