The Holy Bible, conteynyng the Olde Testament and the New [...]. London: Christopher Barker, 1578, folio, a.e.g.
A STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL FOLIO BISHOP'S BIBLE WITH FINE ILLUSTRATIONS. A PHENOMENAL EXAMPLE OF AN EARLY ENGLISH BIBLE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION.
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One of the finest obtainable folio English Bibles prior to the release of the King James, a genuinely exceptional bright and clean copy with stunning typography which is very much reminiscent of the King James Bible folio itself, but here typographically finer with very fine engraved illustrations throughout. It is near impossible to find a folio English Bible of this period in such excellent clean condition, and so here is truly a wonderful survivor.
The Bishop's Bible was the successor to King Henry VIII's Great Bible and was designed to replace the Geneva Bible translation of 1560. It was first printed in 1568 and went through many editions, with the 1602 edition being the base text for the King James Version. The Bishop's Bible was produced because of the content of the marginalia in the Geneva Bible supporting Presbyterianism which sought to replace the government of the church by bishops with government by lay elders of the church, but Henry VIII's Great Bible was the only other available English Bible which was legally authorised for use in England and was translated from St. Jerome's Latin Vulgate rather than from the original languages directly. The Bishop's Bible was produced to fill this void. However, it failed to be as popular domestically as the Geneva Bible and so the majority of copies were in folio format for church use. Correspondingly, the majority of copies which survive were heavily used and so are practically always in very worn condition lacking numerous leaves etc. This copy, aside from the general title which is provided in extremely fine manuscript facsimile, collates as complete and is almost unbelievably bright and clean throughout.
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Provenance:
Fine tooled morocco bookplate of William Grigg to front pastedown dated 1814 with a 5-leaf MS tipped in relating to Grigg family members in a neat hand.
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Size: 248 x 348 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[(6), frontis, (*1), *2-9, **9, ***9, A-M8, N6, 2A-2S8, 2T6, 3A-3S8, 3T-3U6, 4A-4L8, 4M-4N6, A-P8, O-R6, (5)]
Early 19th century full calf binding, a later title label laid down to the spine, earlier gilt date at the foot erroneously dated 1574. Binding rebacked preserving the majority of the 19th century backstrip, hinges securely reinforced and thus both boards are very securely attached, the binding is secure, and stands without shelf lean. All edges gilt, very good. Externally very attractive indeed. Fine morocco bookplate to front pastedown offset to the recto of the first blank. "1718" stamped to head of front pastedown. Bound with a frontispiece of Matthew Parker dated 1729 laid down to a 19th century blank. *1 is an extremely fine pen and ink facsimile of the main title, easily being the finest we have ever encountered; it is incorrectly dated 1574 and corrected in pencil but is a real work of art. A facsimile of the map from the 1574 edition is bound in at the front, but that map is not called for in this edition. Aside from the general title, the text collates as complete, including the New Testament title and all divisional titles. Repaired hole to 3D8 just catching some text on the verso; this is not Scriptural text but part of the Numerus Secundum Hebreos leaf at the end of the Psalms. Apocrypha divisional title (4A1) with a leaf edge repair at the foot but very well presented. Some repairs to the final four leaves with some minor staining/spotting to these last few leaves, else the text block is extremely bright and clean throughout, generally free of all stains, foxing, etc, being one of the finest extant text blocks one could hope for. An incredible copy, being one of the finest extant early English folio Bible obtainable.
[Herbert 155; STC 2124].
