The Holy Bible: containing the Old Testament and the New
London, 1648
BSS.201.C48.10
By kind permission of Bible Society

The elaborate embroidered binding on this Bible—once in the possession of the Quaker collector Francis Fry—has survived remarkably well over the centuries. Its design centres around two figures—possibly Samson with his pillars on the left (which he dislodged to bring down the temple at Dagon, as the Book of Judges tells us) and Justice (with sword and scales) on the right. The satin ground has been further decorated with caterpillars, a moth and a snail, along with a host of colourful flowers. Finally, the silver border adds a further dimension of luxury to a very special object.