Testamenti Veteris Biblia Sacra sive Libri Canonici, Priscae Judaeorum Ecclesiae a Deo Traditi [...]. Londini: Henricus Middletonus, 1581. [together with] Iesu Christi d.n. Novum Testamentum, Theodoro Beza Interprete, [...]. London: Thomas Vautrollerius, 1581, 4to.
THE RARE SECOND COMPLETE LATIN BIBLE PRINTED IN ENGLAND. A BEAUTIFUL COPY WITH INCREDIBLE CONTEMPORARY MARGINALIA THROUGHOUT.
With potential royal provenance.
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A beautiful copy in a lovely early 18th century binding of the important second Latin Bible printed in England, following the first just one year prior. This copy has incredible contemporary marginalia throughout the entire Bible. The Apocryphal books are also bound in with this copy, with the separate title page, which are often found lacking. The Apocrypha section is very comprehensive and even includes the additions to Daniel and Esther, The Book of Wisdom, 1-3 Maccabees, etc. The contemporary marginalia becomes especially extensive through all four Gospels, Paul's letters, and a rear blank.
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Size: 174 x 230 mm (approx.)
-> large thick quarto (90mm thick)
Condition:
[(2), t.p., *2-*8, A1-O2, t.p., 2A2-2S8, t.p., 3A2-3Q4, t.p., 4A2-4Z8, &6, t.p., 5A2-5M3, t.p., a2-y6, (2)]
Collated as complete with the *8 blank bound prior to A1 as called for, and with all six title pages. Without the original front blank, but with the others. 18th century half calf over marbled paper backed boards, likely bound circa 1740 or earlier. Binding rubbed with a vertical central split down the spine, not splitting the book in half, but with a hinge crack to the page block at the corresponding location in gathering 4S, noticeable from fore-edge. Both boards are securely attached with the joints a little rubbed. Page edges coloured red, probably contemporaneously, with the top edge dulled as typical, and the others a little faded. Bookplate to front pastedown of James Oliphant of Gask dated 1845 in pencil, with an ink presentation inscription to the verso blank 'R.L. ? from Gask Library, 1904', with an earlier inscription on the second blank verso reading 'from Gask Library'. Some contemporary ink ownership inscriptions to main title page, including 'Nathaniel Martinus' (scored out) and 'Moray' / 'Morray'. Very extensive contemporary marginalia throughout the entire Bible, entirely confined to the marginal space around the text, but occasionally underlining etc. This marginalia becomes rather abundant through the New Testament, especially the Sermon on the Mount etc. This marginalia is in Latin and rather early, presumably 16th century. Due to the contemporary marginalia, we can tell that the text block has not been trimmed at the edges as is very common. Final leaf defective with a hole through the leaf, losing approx. half of four verses on each side. Final blank also with some minor loss at the foot, very extensively annotated on the verso, with some contemporary ownership inscriptions on the recto and some other writings including 'finis', 'antonius', 'mr anton moray', and an illegible signature in an Elizabethan style handwriting and so presumably very early.
The Anton Moray named in the inscription could be a son of James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray who was the illegitimate son of King James V and half sister of Mary Queen of Scots and thus this book was perhaps kept at Darnaway Castle?
