THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER. [and] A NEW VERSION OF THE PSALMS OF DAVID

London: George Eyre and Andrew Strahan, 1823. 142 x 83 mm. (5 1/2 x 3 1/8"). 22, 510 pp., [1] leaf (blank), 81, [1] pp.
VERY ATTRACTIVE CONTEMPORARY RED STRAIGHT-GRAIN MOROCCO BY RUSSELL'S OF GUILDFORD (their ticket on front pastedown), covers with central sunburst medallion containing the Tetragrammaton within a triangle from which the dove of the Holy Spirit descends, surrounded by a blind-tooled roll and multiple gilt rules, foliate cornerpieces, raised bands, gilt-ruled compartments with floral cornerpieces, gilt-rolled turn-ins, all edges gilt. Housed in a very nice felt-lined cloth folding box with red morocco back, gilt lettering. For the binding: Ramsden, p. 144. A little soiling to leather and a couple of trivial imperfections internally, but a very fine copy inside and out.

This pretty little prayer book is a lovely example of provincial English bookbinding, and very typical of an era in which such luxurious volumes were popular gifts among the moneyed classes. The Russell firm is recorded by Ramsden as operating in Guildford, in southern England, and the ticket in the present book notes that they were also booksellers, stationers, printers, cutlers, and silversmiths in addition to binders. This charming devotional work has been carefully looked after by its previous owners, and comes down to us in excellent condition..