The Old Testament and The New Testament of our Lord Jesus Christ, Conferred diligently with the Greeke, and best approoved Translations in divers Languages. Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the King's most Excellent Majestie in 1608. [Together with] Two right profitable and fruitfull Concordances, or large and ample Tables Alphabeticall. The first containing the interpretation of the Hebrew, Caldean, Greeke, and Latine words... Collected by R.F.H, Imprinted at London by Robert Barker in 1608. [Together with] An incomplete Book of Psalms, undated but probably also dated 1608 and certainly printed by Robert Barker in London.
AN ORIGINAL GENEVA "BREECHES" BIBLE DATED TO THE YEAR 1608, PRECEDING THE KING JAMES BIBLE, IN A FANTASTIC EARLY FULL PANELLED CALF BINDING WITH RICH PROVENANCE DATING ALL THE WAY TO NEAR THE TIME OF PRINTING!
-------------------
A very rare original 1608 "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 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 "seditious" by King James when he banned the Geneva Bible not long after the publication of the King James Bible 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 the 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.
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).
-------------------
Provenance:
Ownership inscription of Robert Fairefielde dated 20th of June 1606. Perhaps erroneously dated.
Very early, circa 1650 or earlier, extensive ink writing to a blank on the verso of the title page for the Concordances. The handwriting is in the manner of Elizabethan secretary hand and this type of handwriting was largely non-existent by the time of the restoration in 1660, thus potentially from the original owner or their circle, not signed or dated.
Ownership inscription of George Sarnnloy dated 1682 to page 53 of the Book of Psalms at the rear.
Very early ink ownership inscription dated 1684 by 'Ann Kinnley' to the verso of E6 of the Psalms at the rear.
Early ink ownership inscription (circa the early 1700s) of William Fairefielde with a Latin inscription declaring him as the rightful owner of this book with a later English translation written below. This is written at the blank space at the end of Malachi.
Ownership inscription of Thomas Boll, likely the immediate owner following William Fairfield and thus circa 1750.
Ownership inscription of Thomas Hallam dated 1826 to front blank, probably the Thomas Hallam born in 1786 and died in 1872 who married Elizabeth Smith. Underneath is 'Topcliffe Manor', where this Bible would have been kept.
Ownership inscription of George Bell, Esq, with 'Topcliffe' written below, thus this inscription is likely roughly contemporary with Thomas Hallam.
-------------------
Size: 175 x 223 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[A2-A7; B1-2I2, *i-*iv, 3K1-3Z10, a1-l2, A3-E7]
Near contemporary full panelled calf binding, rubbed with some loss at the foot of the spine. Both boards are securely attached, the binding is without shelf lean.
Without any attached bookplates but with some ink ownership inscriptions throughout as discussed in the provenance section, as well as some very early writing to some of the blanks throughout. Lacks Old Testament title page, A1 (first leaf of Genesis), and A8. 2M4 through to 2M8 detached but present.
Minor damp staining at the rear affecting the final eight leaves. Verso of the concordance's title page with lots of writing in an Elizabethan secretary hand, seemingly a prayer, but difficult to read, the ink for this inscription leaks through to the other side. Closed tear to A2 (Genesis), partially detached and folded, but without loss to text; circa 20th century blue ink inscription reading "verse 7" at the foot of the recto identifying the reading "breeches", thus identifying this as a Geneva Bible. The first seven leaves of Genesis are a little ragged at the fore-edge, losing some of the margin commentary. a2-3 of the concordances torn, a2 lacks the upper half of the leaf, that is the preface, dated 1578 at the foot of the verso; closed tear to a3 without loss to text. 3A7 torn with a part of the leaf detached but present and thus could be reattached without significant loss (from 2 Esdras in the Apocrypha). 3U7 torn with some loss of half of the first three verses of Colossians. Second front blank partially detached in the gutter.
Very clean throughout the text block, significantly better than typically found, occasional marginalia of varying date, mostly 17th and 18th century with some very early indeed, perhaps contemporary from the original owners. Some early rather faint underlining of text throughout. Text block trimmed, occasionally catching the upper parts of titles and some marginalia, but preserving the majority of the margin commentary throughout. Occasional minor damp staining. Mildly toned throughout as typical, more so towards the first few leaves of Genesis, but this is one of the cleanest examples of a Geneva Bible we have encountered internally in a fantastic near contemporary binding.
