The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments, According to the Authorised Version. With Illustrations by Gustave Dore. Two Volumes

The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments, According to the Authorised Version. With Illustrations by Gustave Dore. Two Volumes. c 1880. London and New York: Cassell Petter, and Company.

Gustave Doré was one of the most celebrated illustrators of the nineteenth century, and his Bible images became some of his most influential work. Rather than providing small decorative illustrations, Doré approached biblical scenes on a monumental scale, creating dramatic compositions filled with architecture, landscape, movement, light, and highly theatrical contrasts of darkness and illumination. His interpretations of subjects such as Creation, the Flood, Moses, Samson, David, the prophets, the life of Christ, and Revelation helped shape the popular visual imagination of the Bible for generations.

Folio.(11.5" x 14.5") Two volumes, three books (O.T. 1116 pp., Apocrypha 188 pp., N.T. 348 pp.) Full black diced calf with thick gilt floral rule framing boards. Spine with five gilt decorated raised bands, gilt lettering to red leather in second and fourth compartments, gilt floral decoration centered to all others, gilt "Gustave Dore." at foot. All edges gilt, marbled endpapers. Minor edgewear, corners bumped and rubbed with small loss to tips. Head and foot of spine rubbed. Spots of foxing found throughout, heavier towards front and rear of textblocks. Title page in red and black ink. Illustrated with 238 full page engravings by Gustave Dore. A beautiful set of books comprising the OT, NT and Apocrypha. Doré (Gustave, illustrator). The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, 2 volumes, London and New York, titles printed in red and black, numerous wood-engraved plates, occasional spotting, all edges gilt, contemporary diced calf gilt, some light edge wear.

A substantial and visually impressive two-volume edition of The Holy Bible, containing the Old Testament, Apocrypha, and New Testament according to the Authorized Version, illustrated with 238 full-page engravings by Gustave Doré. Published in London and New York by Cassell, Petter, and Company, circa 1880.

This edition presents Doré’s illustrations as large full-page engravings throughout the text, giving the work the character of both a Bible and a major Victorian illustrated book. The title pages are printed in red and black.

The two folio volumes are handsomely bound in full black diced calf, with broad gilt floral borders to the boards. The spines have five gilt-decorated raised bands, red leather title labels, gilt floral ornaments, and “Gustave Doré” in gilt at the foot. All edges are gilt, with marbled endpapers.

Complete in two volumes and three principal sections: Old Testament, 1116 pages; Apocrypha, 188 pages; New Testament, 348 pages. The bindings show minor rubbing and edgewear with bumped corners and small loss at the tips. Foxing occurs throughout, more pronounced toward the beginnings and ends of the textblocks. Overall, a handsome and imposing Victorian Doré Bible, particularly desirable for its complete Apocrypha, extensive suite of illustrations, and decorative period bindings.