Boston: Printed for The Commission (by D. B. Updike at The Merrymount Press), 1928 (1930). First Edition. Hardcover. A title notorious for wear and weak hinges, this is a tight, Near Fine copy with light edgewear and minor marks to the spine and front cover. Thick folio (9-3/4" x 13-3/4") in publisher's oxblood pigskin leather stamped in black, top edge gilt; xli, 611 pages. Beautifully printed in black and red on English hand-made rag paper by D. B. Updike in an edition of 500 copies of which only 250 were for sale at the cost of one hundred and fifty dollars in 1930. Updike's magnum opus and one of the most beautifully designed American books of the twentieth century. Printed for the Joint Commission on the Revision and Enrichment of THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER and financed by the banker J.P.Morgan, Updike was well-suited to printing the work being a staunch Episcopalian and familiar with the text; it took two years to produce. This copy was presented to the Archbishop of Nova Scotia with a partly hand-written printed sheet laid in.

"For Updike it was the culmination of everything he believed in and understood, and every facet of his personality and sensibility was called upon to produce this masterpiece of print and spirit" (A CENTURY FOR THE CENTURY 25); PRINTING AND THE MIND OF MAN 173.

Synopsis

This exquisite Deluxe Edition of the Anglican prayer book and literary masterpiece commemorates the 350th anniversary of the 1662 edition intimately familiar to our most enduring writers (Austen, Swift, the Brontës). It features a new introduction by The New Yorker ’s book critic, James Wood, discussing how it has influenced the English language and literature. As essential to the canon as the Bible and the plays of Shakespeare, The Book of Common Prayer has been in daily use for centuries. Originally produced for the Church of England in the sixteenth century by Thomas Cranmer, who was burned at the stake upon the accession to the throne of the ardently Catholic Queen Mary, it contains the entire liturgy as first presented in English—as well as some of the oldest phrases to be used by modern English speakers. Here are the daily prayers, scripture readings, psalm recitals, and the services marking such religious milestones as baptism, confirmation, and marriage (“to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, to till death do us part”), all from the 1662 edition, whose words live on to this day sin figures of speech, ceremonial vows and benedictions, and in the work of some of the greatest writers in English literature.

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Details

Bookseller: Charles Agvent (US)
Bookseller's Inventory #: 021423
Title: BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER
Format/Binding: Hardcover
Book Condition: Used - A title notorious for wear and weak hinges, this is a tight, Near Fine copy with light edgewear and minor marks to the spine and
Quantity Available: 1
Edition: First Edition
Publisher: Printed for The Commission (by D. B. Updike at The Merrymount Press)
Place of Publication: Boston
Date Published: 1928 (1930)
Keywords: Fine Printing, Fine Press, Fine Bindings, Religion, Episcopal Religion, D. B. Updike
Bookseller catalogs: Fine Press; Religion; Fine Bindings; Fine Printing;

Terms of Sale

Charles Agvent

All books subject to prior sale. Payment with order; institutions may be billed. Postage additional: $11.00 for the first book, $6.00 each thereafter. Overseas postage billed at approximate cost. Pennsylvania residents must add 6% sales tax. Mastercard, Visa, and American Express accepted. We are also open to reasonable payment terms. A book may be returned within 7 days of receipt for any reason provided it is in the same condition as sent and prior notice is given. Please insure returns for their full value.

About the Seller

Charles Agvent

This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.

Biblio member since 2003

Fleetwood, Pennsylvania

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About Charles Agvent

We carry a diverse and select stock with major specialties including Modern and 19th Century Literary First Editions, Signed Books & Autographs (especially Presidential and Literary), and Limited Editions Club books. We have been in business since 1987 and are proud to be members of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA) and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB).

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Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:

Fine: A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
First Edition: In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
Spine: The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
Tight: Used to mean that the binding of a book has not been overly loosened by frequent use.
Folio: A folio usually indicates a large book size of 15" in height or larger when used in the context of a book description. Further,...