Bible and Lectern in original Bryce, David & Son box. Glasgow. 1901. [2], 876 printed pages on finest India paper (final leaf marginally torn at bottom with loss of 'The End' and 'Glasgow : printed at the University Press'). 28 full-page line illustrations of testament scenes reduced from designs by Charles Bell Birch, A.R.A. (1832-93) with permission of Messrs S. Bagster & Son. Original chain attaching it to the lectern. Complete with original miniature magnifying glass in the back pocket. Lectern Height 13.63cm Width 8.12cm. Paper printed label on bottom in very good condition ('Chaining of single books in churches. The chaining of single books in churches doubtless originated in the Injunctions given by Edward vi to "the Clergie and the Laetie" in 1547 and printed by Grafton, in which they are ordered "to provide within three moneths next after visitacion one boke of the whole Bible of the largest volume in English, and within one twelve moneth after the saied visitacion, the Paraphrasis of Erasmus the same to be sette uppe in some convenient place within the churche." This Injunction was repeated by Queen Elizabeth in 1599, and, although nothing was mentioned about chains, it seems very probable that the Churchwardens would, for their own sake, adopt that plan of protecting their property. -Blades "Books in Chains".' Complete with original box (rubbed at edges, and slightly mishaped through mild historic damp that has also slightly discoloured and spotted the printed label). 30 x 46 mm. Original brown calf in the antique style, blind-stamped in imitation of 16th century binding (a few mild scuffs). 'Holy Bible' and 'D. Bryce & Son' in gilt on spine. This particular example is in good condition; more often they can be found rubbed or defective. Presented here as it was originally sold, in a red cardboard box with a printed label - this original packaging rarely survives but fortunately is present here. The Bryce version predated the Nimmo Hay and Mitchell edition by 18 years and the boxed Bryce version is now the less common survivor. Bondy, 109. Spielmann, 25. Welsh, 562. OCLC, 1112838621. WorldCat locates 4 copies worldwide. 172 firsts2024