1963 The Holy Bible

Description

Illustrated, Publishers' Original Binding

A charming three volume set of the Holy Bible from the Nonesuch Press.

Based upon the authorised or King James version of 1611, and illustrated with one hundred and five reproductions of the sixteenth-century woodcuts of Bernard Salomon. Salomon is sometimes referred to as 'Petit', alluding to the intricate details he worked into his designs on a very small scale.

Volumes I and II are dedicated to the Old Testament, with volume III containing the New Testament, and the Apocrypha of the Old Testament.

With two brief letters loosely inserted. The first, dated 1963, is from Nonesuch press publisher Sir Francis Meynell, and with the letterhead of Francis Meynell's house in Suffolk, Cobbold's Mill. Beginning 'Dear Roughie', he discusses this work: 'The Bible has been more than six years of work, and I have been involved in it too much to know what it is like. You give me reassurance, thank you!'. He concludes the letter with a discussion of his health, noting 'last year I had a leg thrombosis that put me into hospital - but I too have got the better of the bastard. So'.

The second letter, also from Meynell and addressed to Roughie, is dated 1971. Meynell remarks that 'in my autobiography (to be published at the end of next month) I have quoted Ribald verses of Belloc's querying as to whether they are really his. I hope this won't hurt your feelings. Those who like him will say 'yes, they are his', those who dislike them will say nonsense. In any case they can't be a scrap of distant dust on the great man's memory'.