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The Bible: That is, the Holy Scriptures contained in the Olde and Newe Testament. Translated according to the Ebrew and Greeke, and conferred with the best translations in divers Languages. With most profitable annotations…
Summary
An illustrated black letter folio Geneva Bible with the Adam and Eve engraving, four title pages, illustrations, maps, and the famous marginal notes. This sixteenth century folio features early oak boards, lovely clasps, and beautifully painted edges.
Description
General title page (1595) with an architectural border featuring a lion and a dragon. Full page woodcut engraving of Adam and Eve in the Garden before Genesis. Text in two column black letter type. Complete set of woodcut illustrations and maps. Woodcut architectural title to the Second Part. Includes Apocrypha as issued. New Testament title page (1595) with decorative woodcut border. Ends on dated colophon (1595) at the end of the Two Tables. Bound with The Whole Booke of Psalms by Sternhold and Hopkins. Text in single column black letter. Woodcut first chapter initials, head- and tailpieces throughout.
Collation
A^4, A-Z^6, Aa-Zz^6, Aaa-Zzz^6; Aaaa-Zzzz^6; 5A-5M^6, Nnnnn^4. Complete with all titles.
Binding
Brown paneled rebacked calf over beveled oak boards. Evidence of backstrips. Covers elaborately ruled and tooled in blind around a central arabesque design with hearts, circles, and center fleurons. Two closing clasps. Edges painted in red, yellow, and green with a triangular design. Hinges reinforced. Rebacked in black calf with five raised bands, gilt rolls, and a red gilt-lined morocco label with the words “Holy Bible” in gilt. Plain endpapers.
Condition
Adam and Eve engraving and first two leaves of text soiled and repaired with minimal loss; intermittent soiling and spotting; short closed tear to first leaf of Matthew; Psalter lacks first two leaves and all after Psalm 118, with a few fore-edge margins reinforced and some dampstain to the fore-edge margin. A well-preserved example of a well-read Bible.
Provenance
Armorial bookplate of William Clayton, 4th Baronet of Harleyford Manor, to verso of general title; signature of James Hog to verso of final leaf of Malachi and New Testament title page.
References
Herbert 225; STC 2165.