Thee Holy Bible Ornamented with Engravings by James Fittler from Celebrated Pictures by Old Masters (2 Volumes) [Child Killers Bible]

Thee Holy Bible Ornamented with Engravings by James Fittler from Celebrated Pictures by Old Masters (2 Volumes) [Child Killers Bible] Doublure Binding.

A striking late-18th-century illustrated Bible, known to collectors as the “Child Killers Bible” because of the notorious misprint at Mark 7:27, where the text reads that the children should first be “killed” rather than “filled.” This 1795 London edition was issued with engravings by James Fittler after celebrated Old Master paintings and was printed by Thomas Bensley. Contemporary bibliographic descriptions confirm the nickname and the 1795 Fittler/Bowyer issue. Lacking 8 of the 74 plates.

Fittler, James. c1795. London: The Letter Press by Thomas Bensley. Folio.(10" x 12.5") Doublure binding. Two volumes. Full black leather with fancy blindstamp and gilt rule framing covers. Spines with five gilt decorated raised double bands, gilt lettering to second and fourth compartments., all others with heavy floral filigree filling compartments, gilt "London, 1795" to foot. All edges gilt, light green endpapers in doublure binding. Large monogram bookplate to front pastedowns. Edgewear, corners bumped and rubbed, boards lightly scuffed and rubbed in places. Upper board of Vol.II tender, starting at foot. Engraved title page, 66 (of 74) plates including general and divisional titles. Plates variously foxed, light offsetting to pages opposite, text generally clean.