Holy Bible containing the Old and New Testaments (Lord Wharton's Bible Charity)

1240pp (bible paper). Bound in full, dark brown leather with blind rules and tool work, blind lettering on front and gilt lettering on spine. All edges stained red. (Boards worn and rubbed at edges and around spine joints, with some minor small scuffs and mark on rear board). The endpapers are tanned and front gutter cracked, with a small mark on the front free endpaper, else internally neat, clean, bright and tight with fresh, crisp pages. On the front pastedown there is a Knottingley National School stamp and a bookplate indicating that the volume was donated and distributed by the Philip, Lord Wharton Charity in 1880 to one Mary Elizabeth Wormold. Philip, Lord Wharton, died in February 1694 and by his will left certain estates in Yorkshire, the proceed of which were to be devoted to the distribution of Bibles and other books to young people in Yorkshire, Westmoreland, Cumberland and Buckinghamshire. One suspects that Philip Wharton's Bible strengthened him at many moments of a roller coaster political career, which included periods in the Tower of London and exile during the reign of James II. Elizabeth Wormald's signature also appears on a crude insert on the rear paste down endpaper, where someone else has added the note 'mother's last signature but one 14 days before death, died 18 Jan 1924). A lovely old Bible rich in provenance and history.