Antique Victorian Family Bible — Massive Grand Folio, c. 1880s

Offered is a magnificent Victorian-era Family Bible in a massive Grand Folio format, published by Richard Miller of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Dating to the circa 1880s, this exceptionally large and substantial 19th-century Bible measures over 5 inches thick. It was designed as much more than a devotional Bible, incorporating Scripture alongside biblical reference material, extensive illustrations, historical studies, family-record pages, and other features characteristic of the great Victorian Family Bibles.

DATING

Circa 1880s

An 1886 copyright date appears within the Family Registry section of the volume. Because this date is associated with the Registry material rather than definitively establishing the printing date of the complete Bible, the volume is conservatively dated circa 1880s.

FEATURES

• Beautifully illustrated with an extensive Gustave Doré art gallery

• Published by Richard Miller, Philadelphia

• Massive Grand Folio format

• Parallel-column Bible presentation

• Dr. William Smith's Standard Bible Dictionary

• Comprehensive Bible Concordance

• Extensive biblical illustrations and engraved/lithographic artwork

• Historical studies concerning the Tabernacle, the Life of Christ, and the Travels of St. Paul

• Psalms in Metre

• Approximately 100,000 marginal references

• Family-record and portrait sections

• Gilt page edges

• Elaborate embossed pictorial leather binding with gilt decoration

• Two original metal clasps, both still functional

THE FAMILY HISTORY

One of the most intriguing aspects of this Bible is its family-record section, which remains largely unfilled.

Victorian Family Bibles were often used to preserve family history, with dedicated pages for recording births, marriages, deaths, photographs, and other important family memories.

The largely unused pages in this volume offer an opportunity for a new caretaker to continue that tradition and create another chapter in the history of the Bible.

CONDITION

For a Bible dating to the circa 1880s, this is a substantial and impressive survivor.

The massive boards remain firmly attached and structurally secure. The original embossed leather binding retains its pictorial decoration and gilt detailing, and both original metal clasps remain functional.

As expected of a Bible of this age, there are areas of age-related wear and damage. These include several small tears, localized wear, damage to the die-cut photographic opening in the Family Portraits section, a localized tear to one interior leaf, and minor cracking/separation of the leather along the lower hinge/joint.

Please examine all photographs carefully. The photographs are an important part of the condition description and provide a detailed view of both the impressive preservation and the age-related wear present throughout the volume.

A REMARKABLE VICTORIAN SURVIVOR

With its imposing Grand Folio size, elaborate pictorial binding, original functioning clasps, extensive illustrations, biblical reference material, and largely unfilled family-record pages, this volume represents a remarkable example of the Victorian tradition of preserving Scripture alongside family and cultural history.

An impressive addition to a collection of antique Bibles, Victorian books, Family Bibles, Grand Folio volumes, antiquarian books, or Christian historical material.

INQUIRIES

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Reference: AS-1013

Every page has a story. Every story deserves to be preserved.

📜 Preserving History • Inspiring Faith • Connecting Generations.