The Bible. That is, The Holy Scriptures Conteined in the Olde and Newe Testament. Translated According to the Ebrewe and Greeke, and conferred with the best translations in divers languages. […]. London: Christopher Barker, 1577, small folio
A MAGNIFICENT FOLIO BIBLE: A VERY EARLY ENGLISH BIBLE COMPLETE WITH BEAUTIFUL ILLUSTRATIONS AND ITS CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH BINDING.
-------------------
Provenance:
Contemporary inscription, probably of the 1500s, of Thomas Grotton.
Some contemporary marginalia sporadically throughout, almost certainly during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I due to references to her in this marginalia in a tense which indicates she was currently reigning when the marginalia was written.
Inscription of John Rider and Mary Farndon, circa before 1653.
Inscription of Margaret Cooke dated 1653.
Inscription of William Price dated 21 July 1700 “given to him by his mother” with a further extensive inscription in the same hand detailing that this Bible was purchased from “the wido(w) yeates in the year 1700”, therefore this was presumably held in the Yeates family sometime after 1653, perhaps via the marriage of Margaret Cooke. By descent to Sarah Price, with her inscription dated 1716.
-------------------
Size: 190 x 271 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[(1), ¶6, A-Z6, 2A-2Z6, 3A-3O6, [2], 4A-4T6, 4U1; A2-6, B-K6, L4, (2)]
Contemporary English full calf binding, tooled in blind being a very early form of the English panelled binding design. Metalwork for the clasps extant but lacking the clasps themselves as usual. Lacks bottom compartment of backstrip exposing spine, leather to the boards is rubbed with minor loss but shows very attractively indeed. Rear board detached, front board attached but only by the bottom joint.
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS COLLATE AS COMPLETE, including both titles and the two foldouts. General title leaf affixed to front pastedown but present, original (or very early) blanks present. The very rare foldout map is present. Bound without the Apocryphal books. Bound with a 16th century Psalter (presumably 1570s) at the rear which lacks the title leaf (A1) but is otherwise complete. Sporadic early English marginalia. 2R5 defective with losses, foldout plate with Solomon’s Temple present but losing a third of the plate as usually found. First few leaves of the New Testament ragged at edges, including 4B2 with small loss in the bottom right corner. A few other leaves throughout with small closed tears and a smaller number with minor loss at corners, but generally extremely well preserved throughout the text. A little loss to the bottom of the fold of the foldout map, but it is present and overall a very attractive example. 16th century English vellum binder’s waste visible at rear. Final blank creased with some edge losses. Front blank partially loose.
An exceptionally well preserved folio Geneva Bible - extremely rare in such a wonderful complete state in a contemporary binding, with the benefit of extensive known provenance and the beautiful illustrations.
[Herbert 148; STC 2119].
