Vintage Book of Psalms James Moffatt Illustrated Photogravure Collins 1930s
£28.00
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Vintage Book of Psalms James Moffatt Illustrated Photogravure Collins 1930s
£28.00
Item Overview
- Type: Vintage Illustrated Devotional Theological Book
- Designer: Dr James Moffatt (Translator)
- Brand: Collins' Clear-Type Press
- Manufacturer: William Collins, Sons & Co Ltd
- MPN: Moffatt Translation Pattern
- Place of Origin: London and Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Style: Art Deco / Ecclesiastical Giftware / Dark Academia Library
- Colour: Deep Forest Green Cloth, Rich Intaglio Gold Gilt Cover Motif, and Sepia-Toned Photogravure Plates
- Design Era: Interwar Art Deco (c. 1930s)
- Material: Woven Cloth Hardback Cover, Heavy Stock Paper, and Silk Ribbon Bookmark
- Set Includes: One (1) Single Vintage Illustrated Volume with Hand-Written 1940 Presentation Inscription
- Features: Full-Page Photogravure Frontispiece, Intricate Gold Gilt Winged Angel Upper Board Emblem, Gilt Cross Spine Accents, Clear-Type Typography
- Condition: Good Vintage Condition with Honest Exterior Spine Chipping
- Size and Capacity: Measures approximately 19cm Length x 13cm Width (Approx. 7.5 inches x 5.1 inches)
Dating & Historical Context
- Dating: This elegant devotional volume dates to the interwar period of the 1930s. While the printing plate layout reflects a classic undated Collins production style, its release parameter is perfectly bracketed by the distinct Art Deco wing styling of the gilt cover angel and the historical ink inscription on the front endpaper, firmly documenting its presentation in March 1940.
- Historical Note: Dr James Moffatt was a pioneering Scottish theologian who shook the biblical academic landscape in the early 20th century by publishing "The Moffatt New Translation". He departed from traditional archaic terms to present the scriptures in vibrant, contemporary English. Published by Collins' Clear-Type Press, this deluxe edition sought to frame Moffatt's poetic translations beautifully, embedding rich, atmospheric photogravure illustration plates of historic Middle Eastern settings. The cover houses a striking, stylized Art Deco angel clutching a sword, a magnificent example of 1930s religious book binding design.
Description
A deeply atmospheric, visual, and highly tactile acquisition for collectors of vintage theology, period props, or unique heritage gifts, this 1930s edition of The Book of Psalms is full of historic character. The volume features a magnificent forest green cloth binding dominated by a heavy, metallic gold-gilt Art Deco angel motif that catches the light beautifully. The interior is wonderfully appointed with high-fidelity, sepia-toned photogravure plates capturing historical landscapes and portraits, creating a serene, meditative reading experience.
Expert Identification & Design Features:
- Moffatt Modern Translation: Housed in clear, highly readable text fonts engineered by the legendary Collins publishing house for maximum layout clarity.
- Art Deco Cover Tooling: The upper board carries a commanding, deeply stamped golden heavenly messenger, capturing the clean geometric design themes of the interwar years.
- Poignant Wartime Provenance: The front flyleaf bears a beautifully preserved hand-written fountain pen inscription reading "Jean, with love from SM Bunting, March 1940", grounding the book directly in early British Home Front history.
Condition Report
This vintage book is in good condition, showing honest age and a lovely, authentic library character. The interior pages are remarkably clean, crisp, and bright, remaining entirely free from foxing, modern pencil scoring, thumb-smudging, or terminal corner creasing; the binding holds firm and square. The photogravure plates are complete and securely attached, and the original internal black ribbon marker remains fully intact. The exterior green cloth boards retain sharp corners and a highly vibrant gilt front motif. The spine exhibits honest historic wear, displaying light fraying and material chipping along the upper and lower terminal headcaps, as well as a small patch of rubbing to the cloth edge near the main title block, all of which is clearly documented in the detailed gallery images.
Shipping & Logistics
- Domestic Shipping: FREE UK TRACKED DELIVERY.
- Packaging: To protect the delicate, vintage cloth spine and preserve the bright gold cover gilding, the volume will be wrapped in acid-free tissue paper, encased in high-density bubble cushioning, and packed inside a rigid cardboard container filled with loose-fill peanuts to eliminate shifting during transit.
- Dispatch: Order before 12.00pm and we ship same day.
Returns & Payment Policies
We want you to be delighted with your heritage find.
- Not as Described: In the unlikely event of an error in our listing, we will provide a full refund and cover the return postage costs.
- Change of Mind: We accept returns within 30 days; however, in these instances, the buyer is responsible for the return shipping costs.