1633-1635 Quarto Three Volume Illustrated Douay-Rheims Bible

The New Testament of Jesus Christ Faithfully Translated Into English, Out of the authentical Latin, diligently conferred With the Greek, & other Editions in divers languages…by the English college then resident in Rhemes, 1633 [together with] The Holy Bible Faithfully Translated Out of the authentical Latin, diligently conferred with the Hebrew, Greek, & other Editions in divers languages… by the English College of Doway, 1635.

Summary

A complete three volume Douai-Rhemes [Douay-Rheims] Bible rebound in black calf. Together two works in three volumes. Complete Bible text including the summaries, annotations, and tables. Seven steel engravings, numerous head- and tailpieces with woodcut initials.

Description

[New Testament] The fourth edition of the Rheims New Testament, which generally follows the second edition of 1600. Likely printed at Rouen, with text presented in single column Roman font. Six steel engravings include three of the four Evangelists, portraits of St. Paul and St. John before Revelation, and a representation of the Day of Pentecost. The engraved title page is provided in facsimile. The engraved plate before Matthew is lacking; [Old Testament] The second edition of the Douay Old Testament, which generally follows the first edition of 1610. Text presented in single column Roman font within ruled border. The first volume includes the additional engraved title page which is provided in facsimile in the second volume.

Collation

[New Testament] (a)^4, (e)^4, (i)^4, A-Z^8, Aa-Xx^8, Yy-Zz^4, Aaa-Bbb^4. Lacks Ccc^2 (the final two leaves of the Table); [Old Testament] [Vol 1] A-Z^4, Aa-Zz^4, Aaa-Zzz^4, Aaaa-Zzzz^4, Aaaaa-Zzzzz^4, Aaaaaa-Nnnnnn^4, Oooooo2; [Vol 2] A-Z^4, Aa-Zz^4, Aaa-Zzz^4, Aaaa-Zzzz^4, Aaaaa-Zzzzz^4, Aaaaaa-Kkkkkk^4, (a)^4, (e)^4, (i)^4, (o)^4, (u)^2. Complete.

Binding

The three-volume set is beautifully bound in contemporary-style black calf. Covers with gilt-tooled centerpiece surrounded by gilt lines and blind rolls and four gilt fleurons at corners. Spines with found raised bands and extensive blind- and gilt-tooling to compartments. Each spine with two red gilt-ruled labels and the words “Old Testament” and “Doway” or “New Testament” and “Rhemes” in gilt, along with date at foot. New plain endpapers.

Condition

[New Testament] Overall the text is crisp and clean. L8 tissue repair without loss; Mm1 short closed marginal tear; Vv3-8 bottom corner piece torn off with loss of sidenotes; Xx3-Zz1 marginal worming; Yy1-3 (first two leaves of Table) reinforced with some loss; Yy4-Zz1 remargined; Zzz-Bbbb4 fraying to edges; [Old Testament Vol. 1] A-5D tiny wormhole to foot infrequently affecting catchword; N-2I small light stain to head; [Old Testament Vol. 2] A1-E3 small wormhole to upper outer margin; small stain to upper gutter occasionally impacting a few lines of text; 4R-(u) pen-tip sized wormhole.

Note

After the publication of the 1635 Douay Old Testament, it would be another 115 years before the next Roman Catholic Bible was printed.

References

[New Testament] Herbert 479; STC 2946; D&M 370; ESTC S102550. [Old Testament] Herbert 499; STC 2321; D&M 387; ESTC S1501.