Edition De Luxe of Doré's magnificent Bible
The Holy Bible containing the Old and New Testaments according to the Authorized Version. With illustrations by Gustave Doré
London, Paris, New York & Melbourne: Cassell and Company, Limited, n.d., [1886]. 2 volumes, very large 4to, pp. [6], 4, 967, [1]; [4], iv, 969-1116; [4], 188 (Apocrypha); [4], 316 (New Testament); title pages printed in red and black; 238 engravings by Doré throughout; a bit of chafing along the bottom edge of the lower board of volume I, front board of volume I professionally reattached, else a fine, bright, and sound copy in original full black morocco, elaborate gilt stamping on covers and spine. The Apocrypha and New Testament have separate title pages. A tipped-in slip at the front of the first volume reads "The Doré Bible / Edition De Luxe / Special Issue of 485 Copies of which / this is No. 260 / Waverly Book Co. Ltd., Vulcan House, Ludgate Hill, London." The Doré Bible was first published in France at the end of 1865 (dated 1866). Cassell first announced the Doré Bible in November of 1865, and they also announced an English 'parts' edition on January 1, 1866, the first part of which appeared in March of that year. The parts issue wasn't completed until 1870 but such was the demand that in December of 1867 the full text went on sale in both London and New York (dated 1868). These were issued with the imprint Cassell, Petter & Galpin. This present version, with Melbourne added to the imprint Cassell and Company, could not have been issued until at least 1886. With its earlier brethren, this is the only version of the Doré Bible to contain all 238 plates. In all, the Doré Bible was published in at least 234 languages, including Esperanto. It ran to hundreds of editions and was one of the most popular books on the 19th century. See Malan, Gustave Doré, Adrift on Dreams of Splendor (1995), pp. 81-91, and 239-41, who makes no mention of this Edition De Luxe limited to 485 copies. No mention of this limited deluxe edition in OCLC either. Item #59932
Price: $2,500.00
