The Holy Bible containing the Old Testament and the New. Newly translated out of the original tongues: and with the former translations diligently compared and revised … With Contemporary Fore-Edge Painting

Summary: Cambridge: John Field, 1663. 4to (9 x 7 in). A fine copy of a 1663 quarto King James Bible with a contemporary fore-edge painting. Bound in a contemporary ornate morocco binding with the provenance of Augustus Fitzroy, Third Duke of Grafton and Prime Minister between 1768-1770.
Description: Begins with the Book of Common Prayer with title page (1663) within ruled border. General title page (1663) with engraved architectural border. Text presented in two column Roman font with the whole ruled in red. Apocrypha included as issued. New Testament title (1663) within ruled border. Bound with the Whole Book of Psalms by Sternhold and Hopkins with (truncated) printed title page (1663). First chapter decorative initials throughout.
Collation: A^2, B-Z^8, Aa-Zz^8, Aaa-Ooo^8, Ppp^4 (Gen-Mal); A-O^8, P^4 (Apocrypha); A-S^8, T^4 (New Testament). Complete.
Binding: Newly rebacked in matching calf with ornately gilt, though somewhat worn, spine laid down. Covers with ornate gilt centerpiece design with elaborate gilt tooling and red morocco onlays. Spine with five raised bands and elaborate tooling to compartments. All edges gilt with a contemporary fore-edge painting depicting a crown atop a heart with the words "Give Attendance to reading Tim Chap 4 ver 13," all surrounded by a vine with red berries. Marbled endpapers. The tools on this binding are consistent with those used by John Houlden and his son-in-law Titus Tillet, both binders at Cambridge.
A handwritten note pasted on verso of front free endpaper: "This Bible I have given to Isabella Blackford April 1839" and then on another paper, "The above was written by my dear mother, the late Lady August Tavel, on occasion of her presenting it to her sister the late lady Isabella Blackford, at whose decease Dec 1866, it was given to me by her daughter Isabella. It originally belonged to my Grandfather, Augustus henry, D. of Grafton. At my death I wish it to be given to my cousin Francis Horatio Fitz Roy. (A L M Graftshore Dec 1867.)" With a bookplate of Almeric W Fitzroy on front pastedown.
Condition: Pages are crisp and clean without notable flaws.
Note: Contemporary fore-edge paintings are rare. Early paintings were applied directly to the gilt edge, frequently incorporating flowers or berries. By the late eighteenth century, fore-edge paintings began to be hidden, only visible when the leaves are fanned. This Bible is a fine text, in a fine binding, with a fore-edge painting and provenance.
References: Herbert 684; STC 538. Foot, Mirjam M. The Henry Davis Gift: A Collection of Bookbindings. British Museum Publications, 1983. English Restoration Bookbindings: Samuel Mearne and His Contemporaries. British Museum Publications, 1974, Plate 123. (Inventory #: P34)