AN ORIGINAL GENEVA "BREECHES" BIBLE DATED TO THE YEAR 1585, PRECEDING THE KING JAMES VERSION BY 26 YEARS!
A REMARKABLE SURVIVING EARLY EXAMPLE IN A CONDITION SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER THAN TYPICALLY FOUND.
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A very rare original 1585 "Breeches" Geneva Bible, so named for the reading in Genesis 3:7 describing Adam and Eve as having made "breeches" to cover their nakedness instead of "aprons" or "loincloths".
The text ends on fo.554 thus following Herbert 170 (dated 1581), but this is the 1585 reprint of that edition [Herbert 187] as the tables are printed in a smaller type and the text bibliographically follows Herbert 187. This is further corroborated by some mathematical calculations to the blank verso of the beginning of Matthew where a previous owner in 1740 was trying to determine how old the Bible was, using the date of 1585 to do so. We can therefore assume that the N.T. title page was present in 1740 and read as 1585. We can thus say with confidence that this Bible was printed in the year 1585 due to both Herbert's bibliography and the prior owner's handwritten notes. We also find that the preface is dated to 1578 which makes perfect sense as Herbert 187 is based on Herbert 170 which in turn is based on Herbert 165 which originally dated the preface to 1578 (though was printed in 1580) and this is a reprint of that edition, probably using leftovers of that same preface as printed in 1578.That Herbert 165 edition was one of the most popular printings of the Geneva Bible and was what most subsequent editions were based upon.
This being printed in 1585 adds even more significance as it is one of the last Geneva Bibles to be printed without Tomson's revised New Testament of 1587 and thus a true original Geneva Bible with the New Testament in its original form as originally printed for the Geneva version.
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The History of the Geneva Bible:
The Great Bible (named for its large page size and first ordered by Henry VIII in 1538) was restored to the churches after Elizabeth I's succession halted persecution of Anglicans and Protestants, but the Geneva Bible, imported from Europe and not printed in England until 1576, quickly surpassed the Great Bible in public favour. The Geneva Bible was the first Bible in English to add numbered verses. It was also one of the first to include extensive commentary notes, which were later deemed to be "seditious" by King James when he banned the Geneva Bible not long after the publication of the King James Version in 1611.
King James despised the revolutionary and "seditious" Geneva Bible. He thought the Geneva Bible's study notes on key political texts threatened his authority, so he outlawed it and ordered a new translation of the Bible - the King James (Authorised Version). While the King James Version is an excellent translation, it was edited and authorised by the Government. The Geneva Bible was not. It was truly a Bible by the people and for the people.
The Geneva Bible is unique among all other Bibles. It was the first Bible to use chapters and numbered verses and became the most popular version of its time because of its extensive study notes. These notes were included to explain and interpret the Scriptures for the common people and laid the foundation for a Republican form of government. For nearly half a century these notes helped the people of England, Scotland, and Ireland understand the Bible, as well as the peoples of America...
When the Pilgrims arrived in America in 1620, they brought the Geneva Bible with them. You can see why this remarkable version with its profound study notes played a key role in the formation of the American Republic, and its influence on the development of Western thought, politics, government, society generally, and literature (the Geneva Bible is often called 'The Bible of Shakespeare' for example).
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Provenance:
We can trace much of the provenance (prior ownership) of this Bible through the ownership inscriptions throughout. Below is the chronology of that which we have managed to trace:
John Ogden, undated but circa 17th century
Mary Conhard, May 13th 1736
William Elwes, 1740
B N Conhard, July 1743
Guylot Conhard, dated 1752 November, 6th December 1752, and 30th November 1755. This owner wrote a full page discussing Jesus and the disciples and the multitude fasting and "having nothing to eat" - perhaps some relation to the feeding of the five thousand. It is signed at the end "Guy Lott Conhard Rit it December 6 Day new time 1752."
David Conhard, March 17th 1760. This owner had this book rebound in 1760 by "Mr. Bond" of Wisbick (Wisbech, Cambridgeshire UK). Further ownership inscriptions from this individual are found dated both 1772 and 6th October 1787 and so he likely owned it from circa 1760-1787.
J.W. Hill, July 1880 (probably the American James William Hill born in Illinois in 1853. He married "Annie" in 1879 who died a month after giving birth, July 27th 1880 around a similar date to this ownership inscription. He later moved to Eureka Springs, remarried, and became successful, building "The Rosalie" in 1889 for $17,000 at a time when the average house price was $750.)
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Size: 163 x 206 x 73 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[a3-f5, A1-3I2 (O.T), 4pp, 3K1-3Z9 (N.T), A1-C6 (tables)]
18th century (specifically 1760) full calf panelled binding, bound in Wisbech, Cambridge and thus a true example of a Cambridge panelled binding and a very attractive one indeed. Rebacked with a contemporary spine. Joints very good with both boards securely attached with a slight crack at the top of the rear joint which does not compromise the structural integrity. Shelf wear with some loss to corners. Boards a little rubbed with some loss but generally remain very attractive. Contemporary endpapers preserving the handwritten inscription from David Conhard to the pastedown describing the rebinding.
The Old Testament and The New Testament are both textually collated as complete without any missing pages of text, but lack both title pages as common. Lacks the first two leaves of the prayer book at the start (a1-a2), and all after C6 of the tables at the rear which according to Herbert should end at M4, thus lacks C7-M4 of the tables. f5, the final leaf of the prayer book at the beginning of the book, has some minor loss and is torn, this leaf is pictured as the verso of the Genesis 1 and has lots of early ownership inscriptions discussed above in the provenance section. Small hole through 3I2 affecting a few letters of text. Some occasional minor wormholing not affecting any text throughout. The text block is generally fairly clean - significantly better than typically found, with the typical dampstaining etc throughout.
[Herbert 187]
