Vetus Testamentum Graecum ex Versione Septuaginta Interpretum, Juxta Exemplar Vaticanum Romae editum, Accuratissime et ad amussim recusum. Londini: Rogerus Daniel, 1653, 8vo, a.e.g.
THE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FIRST EDITION OF THE SEPTUAGINT PRINTED IN ENGLAND
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A beautiful 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).
This example is very finely bound in 18th century full morocco with beautiful gilt in the most remarkable condition. It truly is a beautiful binding with all edges gilt, a very attractive example of this very rare first edition.
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Condition:
[(2), t.p., 6pp, 1056pp, (2)]
18th century full morocco fine binding retaining its originality including the original gilt tooling, unrestored. Very scarcely encountered in as excellent a binding as here. Binding slightly rubbed, but remains very attractive indeed. Both boards are securely attached. No shelf lean. Very clean throughout the text block. The second part of this is practically always lacking in recorded copies (the commentaries), and it is also lacking in this copy. 1056pp, of 1279pp through the main text, consecutively present up to 1056pp which ends at Malachi, and thus this copy lacks the apocryphal/deuterocanonical books so we here find just the full (Protestant) canonical Old Testament. This loss is somewhat mitigated by the excellent condition and very fine binding, but these sections are nonetheless lacking. There are no attached bookplates or ownership inscriptions, though this copy originates from an aristocratic private collection by descent since at least the 18th century and so is fresh to the market.
[Darlow & Moule 4692; ESTC R210989; Wing B2178]
