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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 pirated 1599 quarto Geneva Bible. Complete Bible text in Roman font with the entire set of Geneva illustrations and maps. This Goose Bible contains two composite heart-shaped title pages with no imprint.
Description
The engraved title (n.d.) 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. 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. No Apocrypha as issued. Similar New Testament woodcut title page (n.d.). Concludes with the Two Tables, ending on the colophon (n.d.). Bound with the Whole Booke of Psalmes with title page (n.d.) by Sternhold and Hopkins. The title page contains the device of a goose at the foot. Woodcut first chapter initials and decorated head- and tailpieces throughout. This copy was printed in Dordt sometime after 1616.
Collation
[par.]^4, A-Z^8 (-A1), &^6 (first part: Gen-Job); Aa-Qq^8 (second part: Psalms- Malachi); Aaa-Ppp^8, Qqq^1 (New Testament). Lacks Genesis 1:1 – 2:25, provided in facsimile.
Binding
Rebound in brown calf, retaining original front board. Front covers rolled in blind with the initials “R K” (Richard King?) around a central gilt lozenge. Spine with four blind-lined raised bands and the words “Bible” lettered in gilt. Rear board tooled and decorated in gilt to match the front. Endpapers renewed. Evidence of clasps. All edges red.
Condition
General title page with lower outer woodcut border repaired with expert facsimile; First page of Genesis provided in expert facsimile; Title to the second part with closed tear and no loss; New Testament title page with small lower corner loss; Gg8 lower corner marginal loss; candle burn hole to lower fore-edge of Hhh1,2; Psalter lacks the final leaf of Prayers as typical.
Provenance
Early seventeenth century birth and baptismal records of Thomas King 1622, Richard King 1659, and family through 1750 on verso of New Testament title page.
Note
The nickname ‘Goose Bible’ is derived from the bird in the device to the title page of the Metrical Psalms. This Geneva version, printed in Dordrecht, is more accurate than the other clandestine editions and closely follows the printing of the 1560 first edition Geneva Bible. Most Geneva Bibles dated 1599 were printed in Amsterdam following King James's 1616 ban on printing the Geneva Bible in England, intended to promote his sponsored translation. Despite the ban, the Geneva Bible remained popular and was printed abroad, then imported into England. In the 1630s, Archbishop Laud prohibited its importation, prompting printers to add falsely dated title pages to circumvent restrictions. The Geneva Bible's popularity endured for over three generations, as evidenced by the vast number of pirated copies available today, highlighting that the King James Bible did not immediately become the dominant text.
References
Herbert 255; ESTC 1187; Wilson’s No. 5.