BINDING - The Holy Bible, London, [c.1940], 8vo, FINELY BOUND in contemporary russet crushed morocco gilt by Bumpus, the upper cover lettered in gilt with unusually extensive quotations. Please see the footnote below regarding the provenance.

BINDING - The Holy Bible. Oxford: Printed at the University Press, [c.1940]. 8vo (178 x 115mm). Printed on India paper, maps printed in colours at the end. FINELY BOUND FOR LADY GWENDELINE SPENCER-CHURCHILL in contemporary full russet crushed morocco gilt by Bumpus, the upper cover lettered in gilt with unusually extensive quotations from The Song of Solomon, Isaiah and William Blake, the spine with 5 raised bands, gilt edges. Provenance: "Darling Goonie, with Anne's love, Christmas 1940" (inscription on front free endpaper, followed by a largely illegible poetic quotation); one compartment of the spine lettered in gilt: "Goonie's Bible from Anne, Dec. 1940"; Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon (modern armorial bookplate loosely-inserted); autograph postcard in red ink, signed "Ann", addressed to The Countess of Avon, dated 7 May 1973, loosely-inserted ("... I did enjoy seeing you both. Let's have another talk soon ..."). The bible, and its unique binding, were a gift from Anne Clarissa Spencer-Churchill (1920-2021) to her mother Lady Gwendeline Theresa Mary Spencer-Churchill (1885-1941) who was known affectionately as "Goonie". In 1952, Anne Clarissa, who was Winston Churchill's niece, became Anthony Eden's second wife, the Countess of Avon.