The Universal Family Bible: or a Complete Exposition and Commentary on the Holy Scriptures, Containing the Sacred Text of the Old and New Testaments;

James Cookson

London

:

For the Author, and Sold by W. Nicoll

,

1784

.
First Edition.

45.5cm x 38.5cm. [1268] pages, 30 plates. Half leather, gilt lettering.

With the Apocyrypha at Large Illustrated with Notes and Observations, Theological, Critical, Moral, Historical, Practical, Chronological, and Explanatory. The first edition of the Rev. James Cookson’s folio Family Bible, illustrated with 30 engravings. At the time of publicatoin Cookson had recently become master of Churcher’s College, Petersfield. “He was of eccentric habits, and is said once to have announced in church, ‘I have forgotten my sermon, but I will read you a true account of the battle of Waterloo.’ In 1814 he was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.” (Dictionary of National Biography). This copy with the family ownership markings of the Robbins and then Gilbert families, the latter being a theatrical family, relatives to W. S. Gilbert of Gilbert and Sullivan, then the Ripper, and finally McCarthy family, 1784-2010.

Recently rebound in half leather. Loss to tail fore-edge corner of title page, repaired, small amount of text loss. A few other closed tears, repaired. Stain to fore-edge of final 48 pages. Good Condition.