Vetus Testamentum Graecum ex Versione Septuaginta Interpretum, Juxta Exemplar Vaticanum Romae editum, Accuratissime et ad amussim recusum. Londini: Rogerus Daniel, 1653.
THE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FIRST EDITION OF THE SEPTUAGINT PRINTED IN ENGLAND
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A fantastic example of the very rare first printing of the Septuagint in England, the earliest translation of the Hebrew Old Testament into Greek. Edited by the Unitarian controversialist John Biddle (1615-1662), who was imprisoned by the Parliamentary Commissioners for his heretical denial of the Trinity / deity of Christ. "Roger Daniel's version of the text of the Sixtine edition [was] prepared for the use of the scholars at Westminster School. This appeared in 1653 and was edited by the Socinian, John Biddle. Its publication may have owed something to the interest in the Septuagint generated by Codex Alexandrinus and the frustration produced by the failure of Young's attempts to edit it" (S. Mandelbrote, "English Scholarship and the Greek Text of the Old Testament", pp.87).
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Condition:
[(3), t.p., 6pp, 1279pp, 143-186, 1pp, (4)]
Contemporary full calf binding retaining its full originality including the original tooled red morocco label. Very scarcely encountered in a contemporary binding as here. Binding rubbed with minor losses and some bumps to corners/edges, but remains presentable and attractive, the backstrip a little raised from the spine with a tear to the foot. Both boards are securely attached. No shelf lean. Slight separation at the rear hinge. A few light pencil marks and some pen writing to blank endpapers else very clean throughout the text block. The second part of this is usually lacking in recorded copies (the commentaries), here it is present but only partially, retaining pp.143-186 only, but the Septuagint itself is complete.
[Darlow & Moule 4692; ESTC R210989; Wing B2178].
