Oxfordshire: 400 year old bible expected to fetch £5k

A rare King James Version of the Holy Bible of 1648 with Charles II embroidered raised work bindings is on the market.

The bible is up for auction by Pedestal in Henley between Thursday, May 21 and Thursday, June, 4.

Viewing dates are up to Tuesday, June 2.

The bible is expected to fetch up to £5,000.

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Inscriptions inside the bible (Image: The Pedestal)

The embroidery with silk, silver threads and spangles, the front cover probably depicting religious idols, and the spine has floral raised work with silver and leather clasps.

The ‘charming’ bible has multiple inscriptions of various names, believed to be previous owners.

Inscription like ‘Sarah Marlow 1763’, could be Sarah Kent (1725-1791), who married the Revd Michael Marlow Snr (1711-1795), an Anglican clergyman, in 1750.

In 1796 Marlow married Mary Jane Clare (1773-1848), the daughter of the Revd Dr. Thomas Clare, of Rugby, Warwickshire.

The inside of the bible (Image: The Pedestal)

George Thomas Clare was therefore the nephew by marriage to the Rev. Dr. Michael Marlow.

Not much is known about the ornate cover made for the bible, but covers were made for books from the 16th century to the 17th century, and they were frequently worked by skilled amateur embroiderers.

The future Elizabeth I embroidered bindings for a series of books given to her father, King Henry VIII, and his sixth wife, Catherine Parr, as New Year gifts.

A spokesperson for the auction said: “The bible has been in the possession of the current owner for many years and it is intriguing to think who will treasure it next as it heads towards its four-hundredth birthday.”