THE HOLY BIBLE: Containing the Old Testament and the New, newly translated . [Hills and Field Fine Binding]

8vo, 4.5 x 6.5.' Complete, unpaginated: [1], A2-Aaa3, [1 blank]; ruled in red throughout, title page with floral engraved border and centerpiece, in contemporary green Morocco leather binding with gilt stamped spine with five gilt-ruled raised bands and flowers to all four corners and center of each compartment, covers with single gilt rule and triangular dentelle, all edges gilt; early 'Placard' marbled paper endpapers. Two owner's inscriptions, the first in a very fine Old English hand, 'S. R. Crowther' beneath a pen drawing of a lion; subsequent woman owner's inscription 'Hester Yates' also in a fine hand. Hinges very subtly repaired, spine flexed at Hh (Jeremiah) with original tail band cracked, an inherent vice endemic to tight-back bindings of the era, some trivial rubbing to the leather; otherwise a very sound and handsome example of a period English binding. The King James Version is the possession of the British Crown and publication 'privileges' are granted to select few. One caveat is that there was seemingly no restriction on selling or lending these rights. 'On July 7th 1660, the University of Oxford farmed out their privilege to Henry Hills and John Field in consideration of an annual payment of ?80' (D&M) Other privilege holders were quite disturbed by this arrangement, and cried fowl at the particularly 'dangerous' error-ridden editions produced by Hills and Field. [Darlow & Moule 669].…