The Holy Bible.

Item Number: 100390

Boston: Hinkley Co./Merrymount Press, 1905.

Finely bound set of the Bible, limited edition, one of 86 copies, this is number 43, printed on Japan paper. Octavo, 14 volumes. Bound in full blue morocco, elaborate gilt tooling and inlay to the front panel, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. Illustrated with photogravure plates after old masters, captioned tissue guards. In fine condition.

The Bible has had an unprecedented influence on literature and history, especially in the Western World, where the Gutenberg Bible was the first book printed using movable type. According to the March 2007 edition of Time, the Bible “has done more to shape literature, history, entertainment, and culture than any book ever written. Its influence on world history is unparalleled, and shows no signs of abating.” With estimated total sales of over 5 billion copies, it is widely considered to be the most influential and best-selling book of all time. Attitudes towards the Bible also differ among Christian groups. Roman Catholics, high church Anglicans, Methodists and Eastern Orthodox Christians stress the harmony and importance of both the Bible and sacred tradition, while many Protestant churches, including Evangelical Anglicans, focus on the idea of sola scriptura, or scripture alone. This concept arose during the Reformation, and many denominations today support the use of the Bible as the only infallible source of Christian teaching. Others though, advance the concept of prima scriptura in contrast.