1599 Quarto Pirated and Illustrated Geneva Bible – A Fine Copy

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

A clandestine printing of the Geneva Bible in quarto. Complete Bible text in Roman font with the entire set of Geneva illustrations and maps.

Description

The engraved 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 title page featuring a woodcut of the Red Sea. Text in two column Roman font with wide margins throughout 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. Apocrypha added in, which is not typically included. 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

[par.]^4, A-Z^8, &^6 (first part: Gen-Job), Aa-Qq^8 (second part: Psalms- Malachi), (A)-(I)^8 (Apocrypha), Aaa-Qqq^8, Rrr^8 (New Testament). Complete in every respect.

Binding

Rebound in brown paneled calf, elaborately tooled with blind and gilt rolls around a central gilt lozenge. Spine with four raised bands, elaborate gilt tooling to compartments, and ma two black morocco labels with the words “Holy Bible” and “Geneva Version” lettered in gilt. Plain endpapers. All edges gilt.  

Condition

The infrequent small stain here or there but a very fine copy – perhaps the cleanest we have ever handled.

Note

The majority of Geneva Bibles dated 1599 were printed in Amsterdam after King James banned the printing of the Geneva Bible in 1616 to encourage the production of his sponsored translation. The Geneva Bible remained popular and began to be printed on the continent and imported into England. Archbishop Laud banned the importation in the 1630s forcing printers to add a falsely dated title page. The popularity of the Geneva Bible remained steadfast for over three generations, and the vast number of pirated Geneva Bibles available today serve as clear evidence that the King James Bible did not become the dominant text very quickly.

References

Herbert 251.