Bowyer Bible
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The Bowyer Bible is an extra-illustrated 45-volume edition of the Macklin Bible created by Robert Bowyer[1][2] between 1800 and 1834.[3] Only a single copy of the Bowyer Bible exists. Robert Bowyer created this Bible by disassembling his own copy of the Macklin Bible and adding additional prints and drawings to it before having it rebound. Bowyer also had a bookcase designed and made special to house the 45 volumes[3] of his Macklin Bible.[1]
The Bible and its bookcase is owned by the Bolton Council and is in the collection of Bolton Museum in England.[4][5]
As did other owners of the Macklin Bible, Bowyer disassembled his copy and inserted additional illustrations and prints before having the Bible rebound.[6] The Bowyer Bible is the most famous Bible resulting from this process.[6][7]
Bowyer worked on his Bible for upwards of 30 years,[7] adding more than 6,000 additional different prints[1][3] and around 200 of the original drawings and vignettes completed by Philip James de Loutherbourg created for the Macklin Bible.[6][5] Among the over 6,000 prints are works of other master artists including Rembrandt, Rubens, Titian,[1] Albert Durer, Raffaelle, Marc Antonio and Callot.[5]
According to a mid-October 1840, London newspaper posting labelled CURIOUS BIBLE, Bowyer's version of the Macklin Bible was insured at the Albion Insurance Office for £3000, and contained representation of nearly every fact, circumstance, and object mention in the Holy Scriptures, including illustrations of plants and living creatures included as proof of the universal deluge.[5]
