1637 King James Bible — Black Letter Quarto
1637 King James Bible — Black Letter Quarto with John Speed Genealogies
Robert Barker & Assigns of John Bill • London • 1637
King James Version • Black Letter Quarto • Apocrypha • John Speed Genealogies
A Distinguished 17th-Century King James Bible
A remarkable 1637 edition of the King James Bible, printed in London by Robert Barker and the Assigns of John Bill. Produced in the distinctive Black Letter or Gothic typeface associated with many early English Bibles, this quarto-format volume preserves an important example of the King James Bible in its 17th-century printed form.
The text block is remarkably well preserved and complete in its contents, extending from the opening dedication material through the concluding “Finis” at Revelation.
John Speed's Biblical Genealogies
One of the volume's most notable features is its extensive series of biblical genealogical illustrations associated with the celebrated cartographer and historian John Speed.
The approximately 34-page genealogical section presents elaborately engraved biblical family trees and related imagery, including representations of Noah's Ark and the Tower of Babel, along with map material.
These illustrations add an important visual and historical dimension to the printed biblical text and are among the features that make early King James editions particularly desirable to collectors.
Apocrypha & Original Features
The Apocrypha remains completely intact between the Old and New Testaments.
The volume also retains its original dedication, “To the Most High and Mighty Prince James,” together with a fully intact engraved New Testament title page featuring a decorative woodcut border depicting the Twelve Tribes of Israel and the Twelve Apostles.
Binding
The Bible has been professionally rebound in a later, modern-looking binding featuring a black leather spine with vibrant marbled-paper covered boards. The rebinding is not original to the 1637 volume, and its exact date is unknown.
The binding is firm, clean, and secure, providing excellent protection for the nearly four-century-old text block.
Condition
The text block is remarkably clean and structurally sound for a Bible of this age. The authentic 17th-century paper retains good strength, with gentle natural yellow toning throughout.
The first introductory genealogy leaf has two small areas of loss along the outer margin. Within the Apocrypha, there is a historic vertical tear near the lower corner of the page containing Ecclesiasticus; the text remains readable.
Aside from these noted defects, the remaining pages are exceptionally well preserved, with no significant tears or damage affecting the biblical text.
Physical & Bibliographic Details
The Holy Bible, King James Version
Year: 1637
Place: London, England
Printers: Robert Barker and Assigns of John Bill
Format: Quarto
Type: Black Letter / Gothic
Contents: Old Testament, Apocrypha, New Testament, dedication material, and John Speed genealogical illustrations
Binding: Later professionally executed black leather and marbled-paper binding
Condition: Remarkably well-preserved text block with the localized defects described above
A Remarkable Early King James Bible
Nearly four centuries old, this 1637 King James Bible preserves the character of an important period in the history of English Bible printing. Its Black Letter typography, intact Apocrypha, surviving dedication and title-page material, and extensive John Speed genealogical illustrations make it a particularly interesting example for the collector of early English Bibles.
While the binding is later to the volume, the 1637 printed text and surviving early features are the heart of this piece.
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Collection Reference: AS-1052
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