c.1880–1885 Oxford Common Prayer & Holy Bible – 1885 School Prize

c.1880–1885 Victorian Oxford Common Prayer & Holy Bible – SPCK Royal Prize Edition Awarded to Fredk Drunning

Details

- Publisher: Oxford University Press, printed for the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK), Northumberland Avenue address

- Year: Undated; circa 1880–1885, with a documented prize presentation in July 1885

- Language: English

- Format: Compact Octavo (8vo), “Pearl 8vo Refs”

Description

A wonderful, complete late-Victorian religious volume combining The Book of Common Prayer and The Holy Bible (King James Version) in a single, compact binding. This finely printed work was issued by Oxford University Press for the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK).

Although the title pages are undated, the volume is attributed to circa 1880–1885 based on its internal publishing details and documented presentation history. The surviving prize plate records that the book was awarded in July 1885, providing a firm historical reference for its presentation and supporting the proposed dating.

One of the volume's most distinctive features is its vibrant Victorian color-lithographed school prize plate, mounted on the front pastedown. The decorative, illuminated plate identifies the Central National School, Colchester, and records the award to “Fredk Drunning on leaving school,” dated July 1885. This surviving inscription preserves a personal connection to Victorian educational and religious history.

The interior is printed in a specialized, compact “Pearl 8vo Refs” format, featuring small, finely set type and textual cross-references. The volume includes the Anglican liturgical services, including the Order for the Burial of the Dead, the Psalter or Psalms of David, and the complete Old and New Testaments under their respective Oxford title pages.

Condition

- Binding: Original publisher's deep charcoal-black structured morocco leather binding with blind-stamped double borders on the boards. The spine features distinct gilt lettering reading “HOLY BIBLE” and “COMMON PRAYER,” separated by raised bands. The binding remains sturdy and structurally sound. The exterior displays light, honest age wear, with noticeable rubbing and minor chipping or loss to the leather at the head of the spine, as shown in the photographs.

- Edges: The text block retains its original, brightly burnished gilt finish on all three edges.

- Interior: The pages are complete and remarkably bright, clean, and crisp, with no foxing or significant historical thumb-soiling observed during examination. The illuminated 1885 school prize plate remains intact, with its striking coloration well preserved.

The condition notes above reflect observations made during examination. Accompanying photographs provide collectors with the opportunity to conduct their own assessment of the binding, prize plate, and overall condition.

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Collection Reference: AS-1073

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