Dutch Statenvertaling 1852 - leather binding with large silver Bible clasp

Antique Dutch Statenbijbel from 1852, published by the Nederlandsche Bijbel-Compagnie in Amsterdam and Haarlem. A particularly distinctive 19th-century copy in a heavy leather binding with gilt edges and a large, richly decorated silver Bible clasp.

The title page lists J. Brandt en Zoon and P. Proost in Amsterdam, and Johannes Enschedé en Zonen in Haarlem. The Bible contains the Old and New Testaments according to the Statenvertaling and is supplemented with Psalms and Gezangen, including musical notation.

A striking feature is the large silver Bible clasp. The long clasp arm is richly decorated with floral ornaments and fluted fields, ending in a wide, fan-shaped decorative piece with flower and leaf motifs. On the reverse side are old Dutch silver hallmarks. One of the difficult-to-read marks shows a Dutch lion in an angular outline, consistent with historical Dutch silver hallmarks. Due to wear on the stamps, the exact silver content, year letter, and silversmith could not be determined with certainty.

The binding of the book itself is also attractive. The dark leather binding has a distinctly worn appearance, and the original gold-colored edges around the text block are still clearly visible. The inside covers feature decorative red endpapers with a floral pattern.

Between several pages, old dried flowers and plant parts have been preserved. It is not known exactly when these were placed in the Bible. They form a personal trace of the book's earlier use and have been preserved in their original places.

Details:

• Title: Biblia, dat is de Gantsche Heylige Schrifture
• Type: Statenbijbel
• Translation: Statenvertaling
• Year: 1852
• Publisher: Nederlandsche Bijbel-Compagnie
• Publishers Amsterdam: J. Brandt en Zoon and P. Proost
• Publisher Haarlem: Johannes Enschedé en Zonen
• Language: Dutch
• Contents: Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Gezangen
• Psalms and Gezangen with musical notation
• Binding: dark leather
• Clasp: large decorated silver Bible clasp
• Hallmarks: old Dutch silver hallmarks, partially worn and difficult to read
• Silver content: not determined with certainty
• Silversmith: unknown
• Edges: gilt / gold-colored
• Endpapers: red decorative floral paper
• Special features: several preserved dried flowers and plant parts
• Dimensions: approx. 15.5 × 9.5 cm
• Thickness: approx. 7.5 cm
• Origin: Netherlands
• Period: mid-19th century
• Classification: antique

Condition:
Reasonable antiquarian condition with clear signs of over 170 years of use. The book is still intact as a whole, but should be handled with care. The leather shows heavy cracking, wear, and local loss of material, especially along the edges, corners, and hinges. The text block shows age-related wear and locally loose pages and gatherings. The gilt edges are still clearly present, but heavily dulled and locally worn due to use. The silver clasp is complete and shows patina and signs of use. The paper is normally discolored for its age. The old dried flowers and plant parts are preserved in their original places in the book. See the photos for a complete picture of the condition.