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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
The famous 1599 quarto Geneva Bible. Complete Bible text in Roman font with the full set of Geneva illustrations and maps and the text ruled in red throughout.
Description
The composite general title page (1599) red-ruled 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. This title page is followed by a printed title page with woodcut of the Red Sea. Text in two column Roman font, ruled in red throughout and 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. Issued without Apocrypha. New Testament title page (1599) Concludes with a dated colophon (1599) at the end of the two Tables. Bound with a complete The Booke of Psalmes with printed title page (n.d.) and tailpiece. Woodcut first chapter initials and decorated head- and tailpieces throughout. This copy was likely printed in the 1630s in Amsterdam.
Collation
[par]^4, A^8, A-Z^8, &^6 (first part: Gen-Job), Aa-Qq^8 (second part: Psalms- Malachi), Aaa-Qqq^8, Rrr^4 (New Testament).
Binding
Nineteenth century straight grained morocco, rebacked with later spine laid down. Covers paneled in gilt. Spine with five blind-lined raised bands. Marbled endpapers. All edges gilt. Rubbed and scuffed with bumped corners.
Condition
Text is crisp, clean and bright with good margins throughout; Infrequent spotting or browning; General title page with two small marginal losses and one small pencil-sized hole to woodcut border of both general title pages; Bbb5 small burn hole with loss of one letter.
Provenance
Nineteenth century ownership notes of Elizabeth Robertson King to front flyleaf. Birth record of Henry Weason to verso of divisional title before Psalms. Note in contemporary hand to verso of last leaf of Malachi that reads “Judeth Smith har book God give her grase ether in to look 1707 not to look but understand that larning is beter than house or land when house and land is gon and money spent, then learning is friend most excellent.”
Note
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 248; STC 2174; Lea Wilson’s No. 6.