The 1613 King James Folio is known as the "true" Second Folio Edition of the King James Bible. The 1611 first edition edition folio used a 59-line per column format, this specific 1613 printing utilized a smaller black-letter font to fit 72 lines per page, making it the only large folio edition to use this layout. It is notable for correcting approximately 400 printing errors found in the original 1611 edition.

As the printer holding the royal patent, Robert Barker was solely responsible for the massive financial costs of production, including labor, ink, and expensive paper. The decision to switch to a 72-line format was a strategic move by Robert Barker. By using a smaller black-letter font and increasing the line count from 59 to 72, Barker significantly reduced the amount of paper needed. This cut the total page count from approximately 732 leaves down to 508, lowering his overhead. The change resulted in a thinner, more compact folio that was easier to transport and handle compared to the massive "59 Line Folios" of 1611. Barker was financially strained by the high costs of the initial 1611 printing and used the 1613 edition as a more economical way to continue fulfilling the demand for Bibles. However, due to the fact that the folio Bibles were primarily used to be read from a pulpit, the format returned to the original 59-line standard for the next 4 editions.

While the exact number of copies for the 1613 72-line folio (Herbert 322) was not recorded, historians estimate the print runs for early King James folios typically ranged between 1,500 and 2,000 copies per edition. But because these were large pulpit Bibles intended for heavy daily use, many copies were literally "worn out," making complete examples extremely rare today. For instance, the more famous 1611 "He" variant has approximately 175 surviving copies known in the world. The 1613 72-line edition here in this listing is considered even scarcer and "undeservedly overlooked" because it was the only edition to use that specific layout.

Owning or viewing this Bible provides a tangible connection to the Reformation and Renaissance, eras that defined modern Protestant theology and established the "majestic cadence" of English scripture. It stands as a witness to the "Textus Receptus," the Greek and Hebrew manuscript tradition that became the bedrock of faith for generations of English-speaking believers.

(Old Testament Title + New Testament Title + Last Leaf of Revelation Supplied in expert facsimile.)

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