Bible, English.- Holy Bible (The), comprising The Old & New Testaments and The Apocrypha, 8 vol., engraved dedication, list of subscribers, 2 engraved frontispieces and 73 plates after Fuseli, Reynolds, West and others, and numerous head- & tail-pieces, some tissue guards, some light foxing to plates, mostly marginal, spotting or browning to some leaves of text, contemporary blue straight-grain morocco, gilt, covers with decorative border in gilt and blind, spines gilt in compartments with five pairs of raised bands, ivory silk doublures and flyleaves edged with gilt floral roll, g.e., rather rubbed and faded, some scuffs, vol.1 & 8 rebacked preserving old spines, [Herbert 1442], folio, for Thomas Macklin [& T.Cadell and W.Davies] by Thomas Bensley, 1800-16.

⁂ A handsome copy of this remarkable Bible, "the most ambitious edition produced in Britain, often pirated but never rivalled." - DNB.

Macklin first announced his plan to publish this lavishly illustrated work in 1789 and devoted the next 11 years of his life to bringing his plans to fruition. He sadly died 5 days after the completion of the final engraving so never lived to see the completed work.