SKU: CODEX-KJV-ABS-1861-CW
The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments. King James Version. Published by the American Bible Society, New York, 1861. Nonpareil 12mo format.
This edition was printed in 1861, the opening year of the American Civil War, during a period of heightened Bible production and distribution in the United States.
The rear flyleaves contain a handwritten note stating:
“Printed in 1450 in the city of Mentz in Germany.”
This inscription reflects a later reader’s historical reference to early European printing (likely alluding to Mainz and the Gutenberg era), not the printing history of this volume.
No evidence of geographic provenance beyond this historical note is present.
Binding:
Original brown leather with blind-stamped decorative patterns to both boards. Leather heavily worn with surface darkening. Red rot present, especially along the spine.
Spine:
Gilt “HOLY BIBLE” lettering remains visible. Spine leather deteriorated with cracking and flaking.
Structural Integrity:
Front board nearly detached. First page loose. Binding weakened throughout.
Water Staining:
Noticeable water staining and foxing from the Epistle of James through the end of the volume. Staining moderate to heavy in affected section.
Paper & Edges:
Pages toned consistent with age. Text block edges darkened; original gilt largely worn away.
Text remains complete and legible despite staining.
Overall condition: Poor to Fair; structurally compromised with water damage.
Codex Giga Rare Books specializes in original manuscripts, early printed Bibles, and historically significant devotional material, presented with transparent and accurate condition reporting.
We also operate Cosmographia Antique Maps, offering original early cartography and geographic prints from the 16th–19th centuries.
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