1613 King James Bible – Red-Ruled, Congreve Provenance, D&M 326
1613 King James Bible – Landmark Fourth Octavo Edition, Hand-Ruled in Red Throughout, with Congreve of Congreve Provenance (Darlow & Moule 326)
Overview
An exceptional example of early 17th-century English printing history, this is a textually complete copy of the 1613 King James Version (KJV) Bible, printed in London by Robert Barker, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty. It represents the historic fourth octavo edition, issued just two years after the landmark 1611 first printing.
Unlike many blackletter editions of the era, this volume is printed in an elegant Roman typeface and comprehensively hand-ruled in red ink throughout. This labor-intensive customization required considerable time and care, enhancing the presentation and distinguishing this copy from ordinary examples of the edition.
Bibliographical Specifications & Completeness
Year: 1613, dated on the General Title Page, New Testament Title Page, and terminal colophon.
Version: King James Version (KJV) / Authorized Version / “True Octavo.”
Classification: Darlow & Moule No. 326.
Typography: Elegant Roman type set within detailed woodcut headpieces, decorative dropped capitals, and dense side columns of cross-references.
Title Pages: Both title pages are present: the woodcut General Title Page and the matching New Testament Title Page. Both feature the iconic, detailed iconographic border depicting the tents of the Twelve Tribes of Israel and the Twelve Apostles.
Completeness: Textually complete from the opening leaves through the final page of Revelation, culminating in the historic terminal “FINIS” mark and Robert Barker’s 1613 printing imprint.
Elite Provenance & Binding
Binding: Bound in substantial antique full-calf leather over thick, rigid boards. The spine features classic raised bands, subtle blind-tooled accents, and a red morocco leather title label stamped in gilt: “THE HOLY BIBLE / 1613.” The page edges display uniform age-toning accumulated over centuries, presenting a cohesive, traditional antique volume.
The Congreve Bookplate: Affixed to the front inner board is an engraved armorial bookplate associated with the Congreve of Congreve family, a prominent English gentry family from Staffordshire with a long-established lineage. The bookplate displays the family coat of arms and the Latin motto:
“Non Moritur Cujus Fama Vivit” — “He does not die whose fame lives on.”
Bibliographical Notes: The front flyleaf retains early, neat scholarly pencil annotations identifying the volume's bibliographical reference as Darlow and Moule, No. 326, documenting its classification and production details.
Detailed Condition
This approximately 413-year-old historical volume presents an attractive shelf profile, with substantial antique binding and notable surviving bibliographical features.
Binding: The binding is solid and tight, with the leather-covered boards firmly attached at the hinges. Light age-related rubbing and surface wear are present at the extremities, corners, and spine bands, consistent with the volume's considerable age.
Paper & Interior: The 17th-century paper remains in remarkably good condition overall. Light, natural age-toning is present throughout. The hand-drawn red ruling remains consistently visible, adding a distinctive decorative feature to the volume.
Historic Repair: An older paper-patch repair is present at the upper margin of an Ecclesiastes leaf, near the “Folly esteemed” running headline. A thin, translucent paper strip stabilizes an earlier marginal tear without loss of text, preserving the integrity of the printed passage.
Collector's Summary
To find a pre-1620 King James Bible with both woodcut title pages, the terminal colophon leaf, and an armorial bookplate associated with an established English gentry family makes this a particularly appealing example for collectors of early English Bibles.
The comprehensive red hand-ruling provides an additional point of distinction, while the surviving title pages, terminal imprint, and Congreve provenance contribute to the volume's historical and bibliographical interest. Together, these features make it a noteworthy candidate for a serious antiquarian Bible, theological, or early English printing collection.
The condition notes above reflect observations made during examination. The accompanying photographs provide prospective collectors with the opportunity to assess the volume's binding, printed leaves, repairs, and overall condition independently.
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Collection Reference: AS-1067
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