Restoration Binding.- Bible, English. The Holy Bible containing the Old Testament and the New..., fine engraved architectural title by Chantry dated 1673, bound without Apocrypha, New Testament with separate letterpress title, 1675 bound with Whole Book of Psalms (The), 1675, together 2 works in 1 vol., ruled in red throughout including engraved title, contemporary ink inscription to head of engraved title erased but with contemporary manuscript list of Sir John Conyers's children written by his wife Lady Conyers to front free endpapers, with a later transcription loosely inserted, dedication very lightly browned, a few small spots or stains and minor marginal flaws, bound in magnificent contemporary red morocco, gilt, ?by Queens' Binder A, the covers elaborately tooled in gilt with overall design of drawer-handles, pointillé fleurons & rosettes, volutes and dots all within a roll-tooled border, spine gilt in compartments and five raised bands, with silver clasps and corner-pieces, upper catch with initials "M C" engraved on verso, g.e., a little rubbed, clasps and corner-pieces slightly tarnished, lower clasp lacking catch, [Herbert 721; Wing B2294, 2672 & 2517], 4to, Cambridge, John Hayes

⁂ A pencilled note on the front free endpaper states that this is a Samuel Mearne binding but from the use of the drawer-handle tools forming an overall pattern it seems much more likely to be the work of Queens' Binder A. It is certainly very similar to those by this binder (possibly William Nott) in Maggs catalogues 1075 nos.78 & 79 and 1212 nos. 54 & 55, the roll-tool borders on all being identical.

Sir John Conyers, 3rd Baronet (1649-1719) of Horden, Co. Durham. In 1675 he married Mary Newman, a kinswoman of Robert Baldwin of Staughton, Hunts., whose estate was inherited by Conyers. With the initials "MC" on the clasp this was presumably Mary's bible, possibly given to her as a wedding present. Of the nine children listed four died either stillborn or prematurely.