Antique Victorian Family Bible — Rare Brass Clasps & Gustave Doré Art, c. 1880s
Offered is a magnificent Victorian-era Family Bible dating to circa the 1880s, published in Philadelphia and featuring the celebrated biblical artwork of Gustave Doré.
This is a massive, oversized Victorian Family Bible, representative of the grand volumes produced during the 19th century for both devotional use and the preservation of family history. Its imposing size, elaborate leather binding, original brass clasps, Doré illustrations, and dedicated family-record sections make it an especially impressive example of the Victorian Family Bible tradition.
WHY THIS BIBLE STANDS OUT
THE DORÉ CONNECTION
The volume prominently features the dramatic biblical illustrations of Gustave Doré, whose monumental engravings became among the most recognized artistic interpretations of biblical subjects during the 19th century.
ORIGINAL BRASS CLASPS
The Bible retains its original dual brass clasps, both of which remain fully functional and securely close the substantial volume.
GOTHIC REVIVAL-STYLE BINDING
The original leather binding features deeply recessed architectural panel stamping, including decorative quatrefoil motifs, with a handsome aged patina consistent with its considerable age.
UNUSED PORTRAIT GALLERY
The Family Portraits section contains substantial cardstock pages with un-punched die-cut openings intended for Victorian-era photographs, including formats commonly used for tintypes and other period photographic portraits. The largely unused condition of these pages is an especially interesting feature.
A CONNECTION TO PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY
Among the most fascinating historical details within this volume is a 1950 handwritten genealogy entry concerning Clarence M. Moyers of Hellertown, Pennsylvania.
This later family record provides a tangible connection between the Bible and a Pennsylvania family, demonstrating how the volume continued to serve as a repository for family history decades after its original publication.
COMPLETE TEXT & CONTENT
This Bible is complete, retaining its full text block throughout.
It contains the Old and New Testaments in the King James Version, along with the historical Apocrypha, a comprehensive Biblical Concordance, and the Psalms of David in Metre.
The substantial text block is accompanied by extensive illustrations and biblical reference material characteristic of these large Victorian Family Bibles.
CONDITION
Exterior:
The genuine antique leather binding displays expected period-appropriate wear and some edge loss, along with a beautiful aged patina. The spine remains intact.
Structure:
The rear hinge exhibits some localized separation of the outer leather near the upper portion, while the underlying structure remains firm. The original brass clasps remain fully functional and close securely.
Pages:
The pages are notably bright and clean for a Bible of this age, with relatively little foxing. A small number of pages exhibit light, minor age-related staining.
As with any 19th-century volume, signs of age and use should be expected. Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description and provide the best representation of the Bible's present state.
A REMARKABLE VICTORIAN FAMILY BIBLE
With its imposing size, original brass clasps, elaborate leather binding, Gustave Doré artwork, portrait gallery, complete text, extensive biblical material, and handwritten family history, this Bible represents much more than an antique book.
It is a surviving example of the Victorian tradition of bringing together Scripture, art, family memory, and history within a single substantial volume.
An excellent addition to a collection of antique Bibles, Victorian books, Family Bibles, antiquarian books, Pennsylvania history, or Christian historical material, or a distinctive centerpiece for a historic home library.
INQUIRIES
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Collection Reference: AS-1012
Every page has a story. Every story deserves to be preserved.
📜 Preserving History • Inspiring Faith • Connecting Generations.