Doves Press - English Bible
£3,750
Auction: 26 January 2011 at 11:00 GMT
Description
The English bible. London: The Doves Press, 1903-1905. Folio, 5 volumes bound as 3, one of 500 copies, initials in red by Edward Johnston, full decorative morocco gilt, gilt doublures, woven clasps, a.e.g., fading to backstrips and upper edges, offsetting and foxing to endpapers, some foxing to page edges (3)
Footnote
Note: The Doves Press was formed by T.J. Cobden-Sanderson before 1900, shortly after he invited Sir Emery Walker to join him in partnership. Cobden-Sanderson commissioned the Doves type, based on those used by Nicolas Jensen in the 15th century, and all books produced by the press between 1900-1916 used this type.
It is generally thought that the Doves Bible was the greatest masterpiece of the Doves Press. It was issued in five volumes between 1903-1905 to a keen list of subscribers. Each volume of the Bible contains a large number of hand-lettered initials and is a fine example of the use of calligraphy and typography. The print run sold out by the time printing ended. As soon as Walker and Cobden-Sanderson issued volume five in June 1905 they announced that the Doves Bible, like all other previous Doves Press editions, was out of print.