1599 Quarto Illustrated Geneva Bible
Key Features
Format: Quarto (8.75” x 6.75”)
Font: Two Column Roman
Binding: Rebound Red Morocco
Printer: Robert Barker, London [i.e. Stam, Amsterdam]
SKU: R10
Key Features
Format: Quarto (8.75” x 6.75”)
Font: Two Column Roman
Binding: Rebound Red Morocco
Printer: Robert Barker, London [i.e. Stam, Amsterdam]
SKU: R10
Key Features
Format: Quarto (8.75” x 6.75”)
Font: Two Column Roman
Binding: Rebound Red Morocco
Printer: Robert Barker, London [i.e. Stam, Amsterdam]
SKU: R10
The Bible, That is, the Holy Scriptures Conteined in the Old and New Testament. Translated according to the Ebrew and Greeke, and conferred with the best translation in divers Languages. With most profitable Annotations…
Summary
The famous 1599 quarto Geneva Bible. Complete text in Roman font with the full set of Geneva illustrations and maps. A nicely rebound copy of the version that journeyed about the Mayflower to America.
Description
The composite general title page (1599) with woodcut border comprising twenty-four small compartments showing the tents of the twelve tribes as well as the figures of the twelve apostles. Title is enclosed within a heart-shaped frame. A second general title page with small woodcut of the Red Sea. Text in two column Roman font containing Tomson’s New Testament and Junius’ Revelation. Complete set of Geneva illustrations and maps. Title to the Second Part (n.d.) with decorated headpiece. Issued without Apocrypha. Concludes with a dated colophon (1599). Woodcut first chapter initials and decorated head- and tailpieces throughout. This copy was likely printed in the 1630s in Amsterdam.
Collation
A^8, A-Z^8, &^6 (first part: Gen-Job), Aa-Qq^8 (second part: Psalms- Malachi), Aaa-Qqq^8, Rrr^4 (New Testament). Lacks New Testament title page.
Binding
Rebound in red double paneled modern morocco around a central gilt lozenge. Gilt and blind lines with corner fleurons. Front board with the words “The Breeches Bible John Edward Murray Smith His Book 1890” lettered in gilt. Spine with five raised bands, fleurons to compartments and the text “Bible” and “London 1599” lettered in gilt. New marbled endpapers. All edges gilt.
Condition
Light browning to bottom fourth of general title with small marginal repaired chip to fore-edge; H-P lower corner, mostly marginal stain; &6-Aa2 (3 ff.) brown stain to final leaf of Job, title to and first leaf of Psalms; Pp7,8 repaired closed tears and fore-edge margin repair; lacks NT title; Aaa2-8, Ddd7-8 fore-edge reinforced without loss of text; infrequent staining and spotting but a clean copy overall with good margins.
Provenance
“John Robinson” to lower margin of S1 verso and verso of title to Psalms.
Note
Most Geneva Bibles dated 1599 were printed in Amsterdam following King James's 1616 ban on printing the Geneva Bible in England, intended to promote his sponsored translation. Despite the ban, the Geneva Bible remained popular and was printed abroad, then imported into England. In the 1630s, Archbishop Laud prohibited its importation, prompting printers to add falsely dated title pages to circumvent restrictions. The Geneva Bible's popularity endured for over three generations, as evidenced by the vast number of pirated copies available today, highlighting that the King James Bible did not immediately become the dominant text.
References
Herbert 253; ESTC 2179; Wilson’s No. 2.