The Holy Bible containing the Old and New Testament. together with the Apocrypha at large and Illustrated with Annotations, theological, moral, practical and divine; Wherein all the Obscure Passages are Elucidated, and every Difficulty explained by the Rev. Mr. Ostervald of Neufchatel in Switzerland Translated at the desire of and Recommended by the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge. BIBLE IN ENGLISH. AUTHORISED VERSION.

Engraved title, two engraved frontispieces, letterpress title to New Testament (browned) and 41 engraved plates, some signed Slack, printed in double columns; a few plates spotted, some with off-setting, [2], iv, [1048] pages; one corner missing of last leaf, new endpapers Large folio (17in x 11in) contemp. calf,signes of wear, rebacked in tan leather retaining the original maroon leather spine label, Signatures: A-Z , Aa-Zz , 3A-11T , a , B-C , d-e ESTC record at T226022 gives pagination: [2], iv, [1048] p.; collation: C -11T , a-C , d ; published in 83 parts; authorised versionThis is an uncommon edition, possibly because according to the British Library catalogue, it was issued in 83 parts, which may also explain why it was unpaginated. It must have been quite an undertaking to produce such a large volume with the accompanying engraved plates. Jean Fr d ric Ostervald [1663-1747] was a Swiss protestant pastor and theologian, whose influence extended far beyond the French speaking world. He became a member of the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge. In the 1770s, there were a number of provincial printings of the Bible in English which included Ostervald's commentaries including folio editions by Harrison of Carlisle, and William Darling of Edinburgh. This bible includes indexes and various other matters, including 'A chronological index' ending at 1800, 'A brief chronological catalogue', 'The history of the Bible epitomized' finishing with the 'Testimonies in favour of the Bible'.Although the engraved title is dated 1797, and the New Testament title dated 1799 the printing could not have been finished before 1800, as some of the the leaves have watermarks of that date. The chronological index also comes down to 1800.John Slack [c.1767-?1832] was an engraver and printer with premises at this time in Princes St, Salford. (See., ALEXANDER, D. A Biographical Dictionary of British and Irish Engravers 1714-1820)