An extraordinarily rare and monumental triumph of mid-Victorian book arts, this 1865 folio edition of The New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ represents the absolute zenith of Victorian illustrated publishing. Issued in London by the prestigious publishing house Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts, and Green, this volume is widely celebrated by bibliophiles as one of the most magnificent typographic and artistic achievements of the 19th century.
What elevates this edition into the realm of true rarity and museum-quality collectibility is its ambitious artistic program. The volume is profusely adorned with intricate woodcut engravings on wood meticulously adapted from the immortal masterworks of High Renaissance and Early Renaissance giants, including Fra Angelico, Pietro Perugino, Francesco Francia, Lorenzo di Credi, Fra Bartolommeo, Titian, Raphael, Gaudenzio Ferrari, and Daniel di Volterra. Every page of text is encased within breathtaking, elaborate decorative borders, ornamental headers, and historiated initial letters designed and superintended by the celebrated Victorian antiquary and illuminator Henry Shaw.
This particular copy is in a truly exceptional, near-flawless state of preservation. The sumptuous dark blind-stamped and gilt-tooled leather binding remains remarkably crisp, showing only the absolute minimal, faint scuffing to the cover extremities, preserving a sharp, commanding presence. The interior block is near pristine, featuring brilliant full gilt edges and exquisite marbled endpapers. Adding a layer of elite historical provenance, the volume bears the discreet binder’s or bookseller's ticket of Myers & Co. of 143 Brompton Road, London, S.W.—a legendary 20th-century antiquarian bookselling firm known for handling the finest association and collector copies.
An unrepeatable acquisition for the discerning collector of fine bindings, rare Bibles, and Victorian graphic art.
Henry Shaw (1800–1873) was an English architectural draughtsman, engraver, illuminator, and antiquary. Elected as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1833, he built a prominent career publishing richly illustrated works on medieval and Elizabethan architecture, ornaments, furniture, and decorative arts. In relation to the Longman New Testament editions, Shaw played a central artistic role by designing or adapting and drawing on wood all the initial letters, decorative borders, tailpieces, medallions, and ornamental portions, while also supervising the drawing and engraving of the figure illustrations.
Dimensions: 25 x 21x 6cm (9.84" x 8.27" x 2.36") .
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