The Text of the New Testament of Jesus Christ, Translated out of the vulgar Latine by the Papists of the traiterous Seminarie at Rhemes. With Arguments of Bookes, Chapters, and Annotations, pretending to discover the corruptions of divers Translations and to cleare the controversies of these days. [...]. By William Fulke. London: Robert Barker, 1601, folio.
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Second edition of Fulke's 1589 refutation of the Rheims New Testament in the form of an annotated parallel presentation of the Rheims and Bishops' versions. Though officially banned in England, the Rheims text ironically gained wide exposure through Fulke's work and influenced the King James translation.
The Rheims version and the Bishops' Bible version in parallel columns, with Fulke's commentary at the end of each chapter. The Rheims version is translated from the Vulgate chiefly by Gregory Martin; the Bishops' Bible translation was overseen by Matthew Parker. "This 'counterblast' to Martin... was indirectly responsible for the marked influence which Rheims exerted on the Bible of 1611" (Herbert). "Two numbers (379 and 380) are omitted in the pagination. The arrangement of the matter is exactly the same as in the first edition" (ibid).
A similar copy in an earlier binding recently sold at Forum Auctions 30th September 2021 lot 27 realising £2,600.
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Provenance:
"Peter Birkbeck his Booke Castleford, Novemb. 15 1666" written on the blank verso of title leaf. This is possibly the Peter Birbeck, husband of a Mary Nalson, this Peter Birbeck was the Rector of Castleford, but records suggest he died in 1666. They had ten children together.
This copy sold at Bonhams 2nd October 2012 lot 241, realising £1,375 (approx. £2,000 today adjusted for inflation). Where acquired by someone who paid to have the book rebound, and thus we can date the rebinding of this book to circa 2012-13. The earlier binding at Bonhams was described as "early half calf, defective."
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Size: 225 x 318 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[(3), A-Z6, Aa-Zz6, Aaa-Zzz6, Aaaa-Kkkk6, Llll8, (2)]
Modern full calf with a tooled title label laid down to the spine between raised bands, the date of 1601 tooled in gilt to the foot. Binding secure with both boards securely attached. Binding a little rubbed with some discolouration to the bottom right of the front board, but shows very attractively indeed. Stands upright without shelf lean. Three blanks at the front, two of which are original, two at the rear of which one is original. The book collates as complete including the original blanks. No attached bookplates. Inscription dated 1666 to verso of title page with a scored out inscription above that, possibly of the same as the 1666 inscription, or possibly of an earlier owner; it is now illegible but appears to begin with a P. Some sporadic near contemporary marginalia, seemingly in the hand of Peter Birbeck, some relating to the Pelagian controversy & St. Augustine, etc. Generally very clean throughout the text block, toned with some sporadic minor spotting, but generally a very good example of this scarce second edition of Fulke's important New Testament.
[Darlow & Moule 202; Herbert 265].
