Three historic English Bibles are on public display at Bradford Cathedral from today.

The exhibition of Bibles published in 1605, 1611 and 1616 is accompanied by illustrated posters from Sheffield University explaining the history of Bible publication in English.

It is part of an international series of events, known as KJB400, to mark the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James I Bible.

All three books are to be found under glass in the Bede Chapel. The 1605 and 1616 Bibles are in one case under a portrait of King James I, painted in about 1620 by an unknown artist.

The most important and valuable of the three books is the 1611 Bible. It was borrowed from Lichfield Cathedral and is a first printing of the first edition of the King James I Bible. Its insurance value alone is £150,000, although the volume is described as priceless.

Dean of Bradford Cathedral, the Very Reverend David Ison said the book was “gorgeous”.

“It uses old-style script reminiscent of the medieval period. You see something that is beautiful to look at; they are still doing illustrated letters but in a simple printed form. It was written and printed to be a work of art, to make an impact on the people who read it,” he added.

All three books are open at the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, chapter 21.

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