1602 First Irish New Testament Title Page Leaf
Key Features
Size: Leaf (10” x 7”), Matting (24” x 20”)
Printer: John Franke, Dublin
SKU: O66C
Contents
1602 Title Page of the Editio Princeps of the New Testament in Irish
Tiomna Nuadh ar d Tighearna agus ar slanajghtheora Josa Criosd…
Summary
The title page of the first New Testament in Irish Gaelic.
Description
The editio princeps of the New Testament into Irish was completed by Nicholas Walsh, Chancellor of St. Patrick. He later served as Bishop of Ossory. John Kearney and Nehemias Donellan also contributed to the work. The version was completed by William Daniel who brought it to print in 1602. The work was translated from the original Greek.
Scarcity
This edition is quite rare; only 500 copies were printed with a fount of type which had been presented in 1571 by Queen Elizabeth “in hope that God in mercy would raise up some to translate the New Testament into their mother tongue” (D&M). The second edition would be printed almost 80 years later.
ABPC shows two copies sold at auction since 1970 between $40k and $75k hammer price.
No copies of this Bible located for sale.
References
D&M 553; STC 2958; ESTC 006171685.