The Holy Bible, containing the Old Testament, and the New: Newly translated out of the Originall Tongues: and with the former Translations diligently compared and reuised by His Maiesties speciall Commandement. Appointed to be read in Churches.

Folio: [732] ff. (final f. in photographic facs. from the Bibl. Mazarine copy; somewhat short at top, top margin of final ff. dampstained).

Mod. chamois over wood, blind ornamental border on covers, spine with 6 raised bands with gilt morocco label. Good copy.

Third large folio ed. (1st 1611) of the King James Version, printed in a large gothic type. It is famous for having been linked to Shakespeare. “For several decades, some theorists have suggested that William Shakespeare placed his mark on the translated text of Psalm 46 that appears in the King James Bible, although many scholars view this as unlikely, stating that the translations were probably agreed upon by a committee of scholars. On the other hand, Shakespeare was in King James’ service during the preparation of the King James Bible, and was generally considered to be 46 years old in 1611 when the translation was completed. There are a few extant examples of Shakespeare’s actual signature, and as was customary at the time, with spelling being somewhat lax in those pre-standardized days, on at least one occasion he signed it "Shakspeare", which divides into four and six letters, thus "46". The 46th word from the beginning of Psalm 46 is “shake” and the 46th word from the end (omitting the liturgical mark ‘Selah’) is “spear” (“speare” in the original spelling) (Psalm 46, Wikipedia). Title printed within elaborate woodcut border. Calendar in red and black. Text printed within ruled border, in gothic and roman type, in 2 col.
Ref. ESTC S122467. - STC2 2247. - Bibles Paris 231. - Darlow/Moule 273. - Herbert 353. - Cp. D. Norton, A Textual History of the King James Bible (Cambridge 2007) pp. 79-81.0
***