The Illuminated Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, translated out of the original tongues...embellished witth sixteen hundred historical engravings by J.A. Adams, more than fourteen hundred of which are from original designs by J.G. Chapman

New York: Harper and Brothers, 1846. First Edition. Large, heavy 4to (33cm). Publisher's black pebble-grained morocco, spine in six gilt-decorated panels with wide gilt floral borders to front and rear covers; cream glazed endpapers; all edges gilt; pp. 844, 128, 256, [4], 8, 14, 34. Inserted and not reckoned in the pagination are: two frontispieces; main half-title printed in red and black; main title page in blue and black; contents leaf in red and black; Apocrypha title printed in blue and black, New Testament half-title page printed in red and black, New Testament title printed in ochre and black; register pages printed in blue, sepia and red. A very clean, unrestored copy in the original publisher's binding, with the cloth-reinforced hinges (as issued) completely intact; general mild rubbing to joints and board edges, scattered faint foxing within; Very Good. Register leaves contain holograph entries of the Sholtus family of Fulton County, New York, dated ca 1850-1880.

First edition of what is generally acclaimed as the most elaborate American illustrated text issued up to its time. Harper's Illuminated Bible was annnounced in 1843 and was originally issued in 54 fascicles, with the bound edition appearing in 1846. The first Bible to be printed in America using electrotype plates, it has been hailed by David Bland as "a technical tour de force" (History of Book Illustration, p.303). HILLS 1161, quoting Frank Weitenkampf: "...this Harper publication was a remarkable production for its time and place, and retains its importance in the annals of American book-making." HAMILTON 198, also quoting Weitenkampf: "..the first notable American effort to produce a richly illustrated book."

Copies in the trade binding are uncommon in commerce, and generally appear well-worn thanks to the book's unwieldy weight and dimensions. This copy is uncommonly fresh and very sturdy, showing none of the usual tendency to crack at the hinges and just minimal rubbing to the boards.