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The Nonesuch Press, London / Random House, New York. Published 1963. Hardcover, 2 volumes of a 3-volume set; 25 cm; designed by Francis Meynell and printed by Vivian Ridler at the University Press, Oxford; illustrated with reproductions of sixteenth-century woodcuts by Bernard Salomon.
In Very Good condition. Olive-green ribbed cloth boards on both volumes with elaborate gilt decorative borders running down the fore-edge side of each board, small gilt ornaments at the outer corners, and full-length gilt decorative panels down each spine. Spines lettered in gilt "THE OLD TESTAMENT I" and "THE OLD TESTAMENT II" with "NONESUCH PRESS" in gilt at the foot of each. Gilt remains bright. Cloth is clean with only mild shelf wear at the extremities. Bindings are tight. Both volumes retain their original publisher-issued clear acetate jackets; one jacket has a 1" tear to the plastic along the top edge of the rear cover, otherwise the acetate jackets are clean and intact. Text blocks show only very light scattered foxing at the outer edges. Pages are clean and unmarked throughout.This set comprises the first two volumes of the three-volume Nonesuch Bible, covering the entire Old Testament (Genesis through Malachi). The third volume, containing the Apocrypha and the New Testament, is not present. Designed by Francis Meynell, founder of the Nonesuch Press, and printed at Oxford University Press by Vivian Ridler, this edition reproduces 105 of the sixteenth-century woodcuts of the Lyon Huguenot artist Bernard Salomon (c. 1508-c. 1561) alongside the Authorized (King James) text of 1611. Meynell's typography and page design, with decorative head-ornaments, drop capitals, and generous cream-paper margins, represent a late masterwork of the Nonesuch Press.Volume I (Old Testament: Genesis to Kings) contents: The Books of the Law (Genesis; Exodus; Leviticus; Numbers; Deuteronomy); The Historical Books, first series (Joshua; Judges; Ruth; 1 Samuel; 2 Samuel; 1 Kings; 2 Kings).Volume II (Old Testament continued: Chronicles to Malachi) contents: The Historical Books, second series (1 Chronicles; 2 Chronicles; Ezra; Nehemiah; Esther); The Five Poetical Books (Job; Psalms; Proverbs; Ecclesiastes; The Song of Solomon); The Longer Books of the Prophets (Isaiah; Jeremiah; Lamentations; Ezekiel; Daniel); The Shorter Books of the Prophets (Hosea; Joel; Amos; Obadiah; Jonah; Micah; Nahum; Habakkuk; Zephaniah; Haggai; Zechariah; Malachi).