An exceptional specimen of 18th-century provincial English printing. Published in York in 1789 (MDCCLXXXIX), this scarce folio copy of Pennington’s Complete Family Bible is a first and only edition offering a magnificent blend of theological history, striking period copperplate illustrations, and personal family history, including the Apocrypha as well as the New and Old Testaments.
What makes this copy uniquely fascinating is its remarkable state of preservation, it features an old, protective secondary leather over-cover that has shielded the volume for generations, keeping the binding tightly secured and the interior text block in highly readable condition. Printed by Lucas Pennington in the historic Coffee Yard of York. Provincial printings of this scale from northern England are far less common than their London counterparts.
A beautifully penned genealogical record from the Singleton & Sykes family is preserved on the flyleaf, mapping out births, marriages, and deaths of the from 1805 to 1917. The records begin with a presentation note: "Presented to Thos. Sykes by Agnes Singleton.", see further family details below.
Superb Copperplate Engravings: Fully illustrated with multi-panel, intricately detailed copper-etched plates depicting the Creation, Eden, and early scriptural landmarks. A highly attractive feature of this copy is the presence of the plate impressions around each individual Biblical engraving, indicating a premium, early printing of the copperplates.
Condition Report
The book is tightly bound and complete. The unique leather over-cover shows expected rubbing and minor losses at the corners, but has done an incredible job protecting the spine and structural integrity of the volume. Inside, the text is exceptionally clean and highly legible; while there is light, age-appropriate thumbing and occasional light spotting/staining and some marks, the pages remain crisp without the severe foxing or damp damage typical of family Bibles of this great age. We have chosen not to remove the protective leather over-cover but we can see the original leather cover beneath by looking at the spine under the over-cover.
Lucas Pennington was a prominent printer operating out of Coffee-Yard, York during the late 18th century. He was well-known for printing major religious and historical texts, including editions of The Works of Flavius Josephus in 1791 as well as this Complete Family Bible in 1789.
Thomas Sykes and Agnes Singleton.
The beautifully penned family registry page functions as a direct historical anchor to real-world parish records. The entries perfectly mirror historical records originating out of Lancashire, England, mapping the lives of this family as they shifted toward Liverpool. Agnes Singleton was born on 20th Jan 1805, Thomas Sykes married an Eleanor, noted at the bottom of the page as "Eleanor Sykes wife of Thomas Sykes and who died on 30th January 1852 aged 27 years". Benjamin Corless Sykes (Born 6th January 1852): The record listed in the Bible stating Benjamin was born on January 6th, 1852, exactly aligns with official English civil and parish baptism records. On February 9th, 1852, he was baptised at Christ Church, Hunter Street in Liverpool. The official record verifies his parents as Thomas Sykes (listed as a "Licensed Victualler" or pub landlord living at Pembroke Place) and Eleanor. The handwritten note detailing that Eleanor died just 24 days after Benjamin's birth, on January 30th, 1852, perfectly illustrates why the Bible was handed down—it likely became a cherished memorial heirloom for the infant child and his father. Benjamin Corless Sykes never married. He grew up to become a highly successful property owner, a prominent local figure, and was related to the wealthy "Sykes's flour millers and bakers" of Liverpool. He passed away on January 4th, 1917, aged 64, as recorded here.
The Bible measures 36 x 27 x 9cm approximately (14" x 10.6" x 3.54").
This item is zero rated for US import tariffs.
