This nineth edition of the Great Bible was published in 1553, between the death of Edward VI, a Protestant, and the reign of Mary I, a Catholic. Originally published in 1539 by order of Henry VIII, the Great Bible was the first authorized English-language Bible to be printed, gaining the name “Great” due to its size. A copy was ordered to be placed in every parish. Mary I’s efforts to reestablish Catholicism in England would lead authorities to destroy some copies of the 1553 edition. This copy features a hand-drawn depiction of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, most likely by a previous owner. It later belonged to the prominent theologian, and collector of rare Bibles, Dr. Charles Ryrie, whose collection was sold at auction in 2016.