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No, don't panic you lot - you're not about to get a BIBLE lesson. Here's the scoop. Back around 1971 or '72 (certainly no earlier than 1970), my mother took me to a Town Centre shop by the name of W. &. R. HOLMES after school one day and bought me 'The Good Book'. (She'd told me earlier that morning of her intention, but I forgot and went to a pal's house, and my mother had to 'phone to remind me.) I no longer remember exactly what became of it, but I do recall inadvertently inflicting some damage to the cover under the dust-jacket, which bothered me somewhat.
A few years later, in 1976 or '77 (no later than '78), I saw its double in another local bookshop and, purely out of a sense of nostalgia, bought it for myself. I'd always been fascinated by the interior illustrations of JACK HAYES, a very talented artist. In my original copy, there was a note on the inside of the dust-jacket which said that a 4-colour photogravure process had been used to reproduce the colour plates, which, to my mind, rendered them almost photographic in appearance. (In my youthful ignorance I thought that's what 'photogravure' meant.)
And, to my eyes, it was true! I used to look at these plates and marvel at the fact they'd been created by human hands, rather than being (it seemed to me) captured by a camera. In my new copy there's no such note (being an edition from 1975), and the illustrations aren't quite so photographic as I seem to remember them being in my first copy, but they're still exceptional examples of artistic accomplishment.
When I bought the new edition, I no longer had my original so couldn't do a direct comparison, alas - but, like I say, there appeared to be a subtle difference (though it may've been my imagination). Still, it was great to see the pictures again after all this time. 'All this time'? In fact, it had only been about six years, but seemed like a lifetime away, such is the puzzling passage of time when one is still a relative youngster.
Anyway, I thought I'd share the illustrations with you here, just to push the parameters of this blog's content. Aren't they fantastic? I don't know much about the artist, apart from the fact that he did some paperback book covers, and some illustrations for LOOK & LEARN magazine by IPC. Let's hear your views about Jack Hayes' work in the ever-lovin' comments section.
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Looking at these pictures now, I'm back in the bedroom of my old house, so strong is the association in my mind between the illustrations and where I lived at the time. However, considering that I had this Bible for only around a year (perhaps approaching two at the very most) before we flitted elsewhere, I'm amazed that it now feels like I owned it for the entire 6 years 7 months I stayed there, rather than just the short period of time it actually was.
(Update:) Not counting the cover, there were 15 illustrations in my replacement Bible, though I've only just discovered that there were 17 in my original edition bought circa '71. Below is the intro on the flyleaf as I recall it (image sourced online), though the 2nd and 3rd paragraphs are absent from my late-'70s replacement copy; probably because, being a later printing, the 'first time' claim about the photogravure images no longer applied to this size of Bible.
The two absent illustrations were likely omitted due to the Church Hymnary being added, requiring the cost being offset by reducing the colour content. I've added them (in sequence) to the pictures above (3 & 4, ignoring the dustjacket), taken from a different edition only recently acquired on eBay. (Moroccoette, yapp, gilt edges, housed in a slipcase.) I'm amazed that I didn't realise before now that my late-'70s copy was 'missing' two images, as the moment I saw them again, I remembered them immediately.
Compare the spine below from an earlier dust-jacket (image sourced online) with the one at the top of the post - as you can see, the Church Hymnary isn't mentioned on the earlier version. And, since typing the previous sentence, I've now acquired a copy of the very same edition as the one I originally had - and can now confirm that the Church Hymnary was indeed not included.
However, astoundingly, I now see that my impression about the illustrations in my earlier edition seeming almost photographic was largely correct. There's one picture in particular that, when compared to its later printing, has a decidedly photographic aspect to it that isn't captured in its subsequent presentation. It's more pronounced in that one illustration, but can also be detected in some of the others, so I wasn't entirely imagining things back in the day. Whether there's a difference in the paper or the printing process between the two versions I'm not sure, but whatever the cause, there's definitely a discernible distinction 'twixt the two publications.
Below are two other Jack Hayes illos from two different issues of Bible Story.
16 comments:
Amazing art – I also have a Bible that I got from my aunt when I was about 9 years old that has some amazing art in it as well (pretty sure it’s not Mr Hayes but will check that out). I’ve not heard of this artist before would be good to know if he painted any paperback book covers etc – He would have been great on Conan lol
Yup, he did paint some paperback book covers, PM - said so in the post. Don't think he ever did any for Conan 'though.
Quite good. I particularly like how Jesus looks a lot more middle eastern than as usually depicted on the 1960s. I swear I've seen his art in other children's books. I remember reading a book about the history of cheese and seeing a painting of middle easterners discovering their milk and curdled and produced cheese. looks like he could have painted it .
Now there's a thing - I wonder if he ever drew for the Ladybird books? I'll have to check.
A belated happy birthday, Kid !! One of my fond memories of childhood was my "Children's Bible" which was full of pictures including painted ones, drawings and even cartoon-like images.
Thanks very much, CJ. Getting nearer to the end of that twig now - going to do my best not to fall off any time soon. Still got your 'Children's Bible' by any chance?
No, all my books from childhood are long gone unfortunately. Another book I remember was one that contained a story or poem for every day of the year. You sound a bit gloomy talking about reaching the end of the twig !
Well, there's nothing to be cheerful about that eventuality, is there, CJ? Who wants to die? Unless one is in terrible pain - or married. (And sometimes there's not much difference between those two scenarios. Me, cynical? Nah!)
I had The Children's Bible, and also a children's hardback book called "Heroes of the Bible," or "Bible Heroes," or something similar. I later gave them to my cousin, for her son and daughter, who are now grown, and have children of their own.
The hours crawl, but the years fly.
I wonder if your cousin's children gave them to their own kids, TC? It would be nice to think they were handed down to succeeding generations. "The hours crawl, but the years fly." Too true.
I hope this adds something for you - I was given a copy in 1969:
"The New Oxford Illustrated Bible.
This clear black-face type Bible contains a new series of thirty-one full-colour illustrations by Jack Hayes, which boldly and dramatically illuminate many Biblical incidents, whether familiar or less well-known, in a style that will immediately appeal to young people.
To achieve the finest and most faithful reproduction, the illustrations are printed in 4-colour photogravure; it is the first time that illustrations reproduced by the process have been included in a Bible of this size.
This new Illustrated Bible is issued in a variety of bindings. There are also larger type editions (including one printed on Oxford India Paper) available in several styles.
A list of illustrations included in this Bible will be found on the back flap of this jacket."
Jade Edition, No.NH 580, 16/-
That bit about photogravure rings a distinct bell, so thanks very much for that. It was the Ruby edition I had (and have), though I seem to remember the illustrations looking more 'photographic' than my current edition, but that was probably the power of suggestion on my young mind by the use of the word 'photogravure'. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
I have an edition called the Jade addition and I can't find anything online about this bible other than your web page. I really want to know the backstory to this bible as I found it in a charity shop but something about it feels special. Any facts you can tell me?
The comment from 'Unknown' (2nd last one above your own) reveals that it was published at least in the '60s (possibly even in the '50s) and that there were various editions of it with different paper and binding. I've seen my version on ebay with blue edging instead of red, but that's about all I know I'm afraid. Jack Hayes did other Biblical illustrations for a magazine, but it's interesting to see that the Jade edition had 31 illustrations, whereas my original copy (Ruby) had only 17, with that reduced to 15 in later editions. It would be interesting to see if a modern version of this Bible is still published today.
I have a bible with these illustrations in(15)it was given to me by my parents when I started senior school in 1965.
Nice to know you still have it, though the copy my mother bought for me in 1970 or '71 had 17 illustrations. As far as I know, they weren't reduced to 15 until later - unless the copy I had was old stock.
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