The Illuminated Bible, Containing The Old And New Testaments, Translated Out Of The Original Tongues ... Embellished With 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 & Bros, 1846. First edition of the most lavish book published in America at the time. Large, thick 4to, pp. 844, 128, 256, [4], 8, 14, 34; inserted and outside the pagination are: engraved presentation leaf printed in sepia, title page and Apocrypha title printed in blue and black, contents leaf, half-title, and N.T. half-title page printed in red and black, N.T. title printed in sepia and black; 2 frontispieces, text in triple column, the middle column a narrow one with notations and glosses; numerous wood-engraved illustrations throughout; without the marriages, births and deaths pages; contemporary half brown morocco over black pebble-grain cloth, gilt-lettered direct on gilt-paneled spine; 2 gatherings and 2 leaves slightly extended, minor spotting; a good, sound copy. Originally issued in 54 fascicles. Hills 1161, quoting Frank Weitenhampf: "...this Harper publication was a remarkable production for its time and place, and retains its importance in the annals of American book-making. W.J. Linton, noted wood-engraver and author, knew 'no other book like this, so good, so perfect in all its undertakes.' The illustrations are like paintings of history, as are so many of the old European Biblical painting and illustrations." Hamilton 198, also quoting Linton: "Drawing, engraving, and printing were all marvels at the time of this book's production; and it well deserved the popularity it immediately obtained..." Weitenkampf: "The first notable American effort to produce a richly illustrated book." Herbert 1860: "This elaborate Bible was issued in parts from 1843 onwards. Many of the illustrations were made from woodcuts by the electrotype process, the first in America." See also Exman, The House of Harper, pp. 34-35.