The Story of the Bible Told by Living Writers of Authority / 4 Volume Set / 1952

Told by Living Writers of Authority 

Library Edition // 4 Volume Set
Vol 1 Prima Pars // Genesis // I Kings
Vol 2 Secunda Pars // II Kings // Daniel
Vol 3 Tertia Pars // Hosea // St Luke
Vol 4 Quarta Pars // St John Revelation

The book is a comprehensive guide to the Old and New Testaments, accompanied by beautiful illustrations. It features essays and commentaries by religious writers, information about the natural history of the Bible, chronological tables, maps and plans of the regions mentioned in the Bible, photographs of the Bible Lands, a history of the modern Bible, reproductions of famous religious artwork, and a travel guide for those interested in exploring the Bible Lands.

Publisher Note on the book design: When we sought a design for the De Luxe binding of your 4-volume “Story of the Bible" Library, it was only natural to turn to the original Gutenberg Bible bindings for our inspiration. Wise & Co. researchers combed the libraries, museums, and private collections of America and Europe for the original Gutenberg Bible binding.

Their research revealed that apparently there were three “first” Gutenberg Bible bindings all identical, but according to reports the original of these three had bronze or brass corners, clasps, and a center medallion.

At long last, this original with the metal parts was finally located in the Landesbibliothek in Fulda, Germany. It was a binding of wooden boards covered with smooth dark brown calf's leather, decorated with blind-stamped impressions of hand-tooled designs. The binding was made by the anonymous, Ertust bookbinder, known as the "Binder of the 42-line Bible- -with the lute player and knots" (in the stamps). It is this priceless binding, obviously created for some medieval high church dignitary or emperor, that your publishers have tried faithfully to duplicate in the De Luxe binding of your Story of the Bible Library.

A modern replica of this Gutenberg Bible is on display in the Newberry Library in Chicago; and, those who have compared both bindings side by side, have been amazed at the marvelous repro-duction, both as to detail and color that our binders have achieved.

Even as the two volumes of the original Gutenberg Bible bear the Latin words “Prima Pars” and "Secunda Pars," we have duplicated these words on the first and second volumes of your set: and have had engravings in Latin reading "Tertia Pars" and "Quarta Pars" impressed in the covers of your third and fourth volumes. We acknowledge with thanks the tireless, painstaking efforts of all the artists, craftsmen, hand-toolers, engravers who produced your De Luxe Artcraft bindings, for we believe they have created an heirloom that your family will cherish for many generations.

Book: Very Good. Dust jacket: None. The book's boards are bounded in dark brown, embossed leatherette. The boards have signs of shelf-wear and rubbing on the head and tail of the spine, as well as the edges, and corners. The board's front and back pastedowns of all volumes are soiled. The text block is slightly tanned and a few pages with minor markings with blue ink. One of the tipped-in colored plates is bent. Still, an attractive set to have on the shelf.

Publisher: WM. H. Wise & Co.
Binding: Hardcover
Book Condition: Very Good
Date Published: MCMLII (1952)
Size: 11.0 X 8.5 X 2.5 inches