1636 Embroidered Dos-a-dos binding with silver thread and Gilt- gauffred edges

1636 Embroidered Dos-a-dos binding with silver thread and Gilt- gauffred edges

“The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Newly translated out of the Originall Greeke...” - London by Robert Barker / John Bill, 1636

And

“The Whole Booke of Psalmes: collected into English Meeter by Tho. Sternhold, Jo. Hopkins, W. Whittingham” – London: Company of Stationers 1636

Contemporary ownership signature of John Clark to title.

Small 24mo – 10.5 x 5.5 cm

Complete but in poor condition with significant wear to binding and complete loss of silver thread to spine. Some leaves loose, including the title page to the Psalms.

Lacking the free marbled end papers. Wormholes to text and title page to the Psalms damaged and loose.

Despite the condition, contemporary embroidered bindings are increasingly uncommon and desirable. The use of silver thread could make a good educational

tool as the worn spine allows the various textile layers required to bind the book to be seen. This pocket prayer book would have been an important object of devotion and will have been used for daily prayer by the owner John Clark.

Provenance: Ralph Ewart Ford (1897-1974): Engineer, Bibliophile and Collector of English Bibles.

£1650