La Sainte Bible
M de Brunoff & Cie, 1904.
First edition. Two volumes, folio. Number 11 of 20 copies on imperial Japon with the plates in three states and additional original watercolour by Tissot, depicting Joseph, in separate card portfolio with proof plate of the watercolour. Finely bound for the W.H.Smith family by Douglas Cockerell in full orange morocco with elaborate ruled border of intertwined double ruled sections and leaf devices onlaid in green morocco to the corners. Elaborate circular central vignette incorporating aspects of the Hambleden crest. Raised bands to spine with gilt titles and intertwined borders with smaller onlays to sections, mirroring the covers. Morocco and pewter clasps. Wide turn-ins with quadruple ruled border and punched dot motifs to corners. All edges on the rough Frontispiece and illustrated title page to each volume, forty full page plates each in three states, heliogravure, hand-coloured and mounted in full colour. 362 further illustrations mounted in the text. A very good set indeed with minor wear to the spine ends and an invisible minor repair to the joint of vol II. Internally perfect. A beautifully presented set of the monumental bible in its most luxurious format.
The binding is unsigned, but is clearly Cockerell. Cockerell was controller of the W.H.Smith bindery between 1904 and 1915, it is known that all the Hambleden library's binding at the time was undertaken by the W.H.Smith bindery and the important and elaborate works by Cockerell himself.
PROVENANCE: W.H.Smith family, Viscounts of Hambleden. W.F.D.Smith listed as the subscriber to this copy on the limitation page and the bookplate of the 3rd Viscount to front pastedowns.
Stock ID: 31565
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