1591 Folio Bishops’ Bible

The Holy Bible, conteyning the Olde Testament and the New …

Summary

A later pulpit folio Bishops’ Bible with attractive black letter text. Textually complete, with a portion of the general title, the entire New Testament title, and in very good condition overall.  

Description

Includes nine preliminary leaves with the Kalendar, ending on the full-page Adam and Eve engraving. The general title page (1591) in red and black is laid down. Text is in two column black letter. The New Testament title page (1591) within architectural border.  First chapter initials, decorated headpieces and tailpieces throughout.

Collation

A-Z^6, Aa-Zz^6, Aaa-Zzz^6, Aaaa-Zzzz^6, Aaaaa^6, Bbbbb^4. Complete.

Binding

Rebound in modern brown calf with original covers laid down. Covers within double blind-rolled border and with corner fleurons. Spine with six blind-lined bands and blind rolls to compartments. A dark red gilt-lined label with the words “Holy Bible 1591” in gilt. Plain endpapers.

Condition

The text is generally in very good condition with good margins throughout. Occasional staining, mostly marginal, and a few minor marginal tears. General title is missing 60 percent with the bottom portion mounted an inserted on the verso of a leaf before the prelims. Below the title is a slip of paper with “William Ingham and Richard Weles bought this booke.” On the front free endpaper is a large inscription ‘John Smeeton His Book” and at the top are records of the births of five children, 1658-1661. On the recto of the following leaf is a bookplate that reads “in the Savoy John Smeeton August 20, 1675.”; inserted after the title are two slightly defective leaves of the Proper Lessons in manuscript; Prelims include the Almanacke and Kalendar (about one third of June/July is missing and the whole is a bit worn); the final preliminary leaf with some paper repairs to the top edge, reducing the border of the Adam and Eve engraving; bottom corner of Genesis 2 is torn away and replaced in manuscript; G1-N3 (Ex-Num) worm hole to the top inner margin not impacting text; Kk4 paper flaw removing some letters of sidenote on verso; Tt3 paper flaw without loss; Tt6, Bbb2, Yyyy3 with closed tears into the text; Uu1 piece torn from margin just touching the text and removing a couple of word from the sidenote; Xx2-Zz6 slight marginal worming; Qqqq6 possibly a paper flaw with old repair, slightly obscuring some letters of text; final leaf bound slightly askew with some lower marginal repair.

Note

One of a series of large folio, black letter Bishops’ Bibles. These Bibles were often used in parish churches, but people of means bought them for private use, as was apparently the case in this copy. The folio Bishops’ Bibles that have survived are frequently imperfect, as is the copy described in Herbert’s catalog.

References

Herbert 209; STC 2156; ESTC S121300.