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[The Byble in Englyshe Of the largest and greatest volume that is to saye the contentes of all the holye Scripture, booth of the oulde and newe Testament. According to the translation apoynted by the Queenes Maiesties injunctions to be read in all churches within her Maiesties Realme. At Touen, At the coste and charges of Richard Carmarden. Cum Privilegio.]
Summary
An attractive copy of the last folio Great Bible, printed in France during the reign of Queen Elizabeth at the expense of Richard Carmarden, prior to the publication of the Bishops’ Bible in 1568. Attractive pulpit folio featuring two column black letter text and three illustrated titles. The woodcut title pages are all unique to this edition.
Description
Begins with the final four leaves of the Collects and the Names of all the Bookes. Text in two column black letter font with 58 lines to the full column. The start of each chapter with a woodcut and crible initials covering between three and seven lines of text. Short chapter summaries provided with occasional cross references in margins. Part 1 comprises the Pentateuch. Part 2 (Joshua-Job) with engraved title page featuring framed borders consisting of twenty-four small blocks and two slips on either side of the letterpress. Various Biblical scenes are depicted within the woodcuts. Part 3 (Psalms-Malachi) lacks its title page but part 4 (Apocrypha) with similar woodcut title page as above. The New Testament title page features the tetragrammaton above the clouds at the top in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and English. A figure of Moses holding the stone tablets and Christ to the left and right, and Queen Elizabeth enthroned below. Elizabeth is supported by two symbolic figures. Four scrolls bearing text surround Moses and Jesus and are written on the clouds above.
Collation
[Aa]^12(-[Aa]1-12), [Bb]^10 (-[Bb]1-5), A-L^8 (Part 1); A-Q^8, R^6 (Part 2); Aa-Ss^8 (-Aa1, title page to Psalms), Tt^6 (Part 3); Aaa-Kkk^8, Lll^10 (Part 4); Aa-Oo^8 (-Oo7-8, final two leaves of Revelation) (Part 5). 578 out of 598 ff.
Binding
Rebound in period dark brown spotted calf. Covers with double panels with corner fleurons and blind rolls. Spine with five blind-lined raised bands and a black gilt-lined morocco label with the words “The Bible in Englyshe” in gilt. Endpapers renewed. All edges red.
Condition
Paper is quite thick and clean; good margins throughout.; preliminary leaves mounted on a stub; first two leaves of Genesis repaired to fore-edge with loss of a few letters; A7 piece torn away to outer column costing seven lines of text; Aa4 lower corner repair without loss; Fff1 (Apocrypha) with lower corner torn costing a few words; New Testament title page with closed tear without loss; lacks final two leaves of Revelation; occasional spotting and staining, but a clean copy overall.
Note
First published in 1539 under the authority of King Henry VIII, the Great Bible was the first English Bible officially authorized for public reading in the churches of England, and remained the only version appointed for that purpose until the Bishops’ Bible appeared in 1568. Prepared by Myles Coverdale, it was largely a continuation of William Tyndale’s pioneering translation of the Scriptures from the original Hebrew and Greek. Numerous editions appeared during the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI, with two later editions printed in 1562 and 1566 under Elizabeth I, shortly before the introduction of the Bishops’ version. The present edition, printed in France in 1566, represents the final printing of the Great Bible and an important link between Tyndale’s monumental translation work and the later Bishops’ and King James texts.
References
Herbert 119; STC 2098.