1592 Folio Illustrated Geneva Bible in Contemporary Boards

The Bible, That is, the Holy Scriptures contained in the Olde and Newe Testament. Translated according to the Ebrew and Greeke, and conferred with the best translations in divers languages. With most profitable Annotations upon all the hard places, and other things of great importance.

Summary

A complete sixteenth century folio Geneva Bible with the set of illustrations and maps. Rebacked in contemporary boards, blind-tooled calf, and furniture.

Description

Text in two column black letter with 60 lines to the full column. General title page with architectural border (1592) as seen in Bishops’ Bibles. The full-page engraving of Adam and Eve in the Garden facing Genesis 1. Complete set of Geneva illustrations and maps. Title to the second part with elaborate woodcut border design. Apocrypha not included, likely removed by a zealous Puritan before the book was bound. New Testament title page (1591) same as that used for the general title. Ends on colophon (1592). Bound with The Whole Book of Psalmes by Sternhold and Hopkins with title page (1586). A rather scarce copy set in single column, musically noted in parts. ESTC records only eight copies in institutions. First chapter decorative initials, headpieces, and tailpieces throughout.

Collation

A^4, A-Z^6, Aa-Zz^6, Aaa-Ttt^6, Mmmm-Zzzz^6, Aaaaa-Mmmmm^6, Nnnnn^4. Complete without Apocrypha.

Binding

Full contemporary blind-tooled calf over original oak boards. Covers with all eight cornerpieces and two centerpieces present. Clasps present with straps and hasps perished. Recently rebacked in near matching calf with five blind-lined raised bands and one gilt-rolled morocco label and the words “Holy Bible” lettered in gilt. Plain endpapers.

Condition

Title page with one closed tear just into border; A1 (Gen 1) short, closed tear into text without loss; A5 small round burn hole to fore-edge margin with loss of a few words of sidenotes; A6 half-moon tear to fore-edge margin with loss of a few sentences of sidenotes; Final leaf of Psalter with small closed tear; a few minor marks and blemishes but a clean text overall with good margins.

Provenance

Armorial bookplate to front pastedown; Two early manuscript notations to front board and endpapers. The first reads “… lyeth the bodie of Richard Griffith, notarie publique… the 22nd February, 1642, his age 61 years.” The second reads “John Edwards, his booke, bought in ye year 1693, cost eleaven shillings.”

Note

A beautifully preserved folio Geneva Bible. Sixteenth century Geneva Bibles are scarce on the market, and the contemporary binding, the full set of illustrations and maps, and the complete Bible text make this book a highly collectible gem. 

References

Herbert 210; STC 2157; ESTC S3399; Luborsky 2157.