Holy Bible containing Old and New testaments. Bryce, David & Son. Glasgow. 1912. Memento of Ulster Day 28 September 1912. Printed on front endpapers is 'Ulster's Solemn League and Covenant' with a Red Hand in Shield, to top left. Complete with magnifier in back pocket and complete with rare printed dust-jacket (unrepaired and in good condition with slight edge-wear). All edges yellow. 32 x 45 mm. Original dark blue embossed calf (I believe this is the only edition of this particular bible that Bryce had bound in this blue). Spine has two horizontal ruled lines embossed with Holy Bible above and 1912 below. Between is written 'A Memento of Ulster day 28 September. The Covenant was signed by Sir Edward Carson (leader of the Irish Unionist Alliance) - his facsimile signature is printed here on the front free endpaper - and more than half a million other Protestants, in protest against the Third Home Rule Bill introduced by Asquith's British Government that year. Out of the Covenant, the Ulster Volunteer Force was born and, after Ireland's post World War One partition, sectarian attacks grew more widespread. The UVF lasted several years before being absorbed into the Ulster Special Constabulary in the 1920s. This edition was not mentioned by Garbett and nor has it been documented elswhere, to my knowledge. I have only ever seen this and two other examples for sale, both without the exceptionally rare dust-jacket. WorldCat locates zero copies of this edition worldwide. 28 firsts2024