1883 Huge and Bulking Douay Rheims Catholic Bible

This huge and bulking, extensively illustrated (full page black and white engravings as well as a number of chromolithographs) Roman Catholic antique family Bible has a decorative cover which consists of 3/8" thick leather covered boards embossed and gilded with intricate artwork, and depicts a cross and a number of scenes from the Bible (including the Last Supper). The text of this Bible is the so called Douay-Rheims Bible (or Doway Rheims Bible or D-R Bible), which is an English translation from the Latin Vulgate. The text covers the complete Old and New Testament as well as the books that are often referred to as the Apocrypha (which are part of the canon of the Roman Catholic Old Testament). To support the study of this Bible various notes and explanations are added to the text in chapter descriptions and footnotes. Numerous full pages engravings (including from the French artist Gustave Doré).

This Bible also has a large number of additional sections, including approbations of the archbishops and bishops of the Holy Catholic Church in America, portraits of supreme pontiffs, archbishops and bishops, an extensive colored map section, various chronological and other valuable tables, an illustrated and comprehensive Catholic Bible dictionary, comprehensive history of the books of the Holy Catholic Bible, the parables of our Lord Jesus Christ, chronological index to the Old Testament, family section (BLANK, never used), the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, The Stations of the Holy Way of the Cross (illustrated), a preface to the New Testament, historical and chronological index to the New Testament, translations of the decree of the council of Trent, and some pages for family portraits in the back.

This Bible is in a GOOD condition. The Bible's binding, spine are in good working order, but as this is still the original binding one needs to open and read this book with care as age is starting to make it more fragile. All pages seem to be present but some are damaged (rough edges, some tears and - especially in the front of the Bible - a few pages that are somewhat loose). We did not notice any serious other problems nor foxing or water damages. The cover shows age related scuffs and some of the gold gilt has been lost. See the many photo's for this nice antique piece of history!