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[The Bible. That is, the Holy Scriptures contained in the Olde and New 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 three distinct title pages, illustrations, maps, and the famous marginal notes. This tall copy boasts wide margins and retains its contemporary covers.
Description
General title page (1602) in facsimile. 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 (1602) with decorative woodcut border. Woodcut first chapter initials, head- and tailpieces.
Collation
A^4 (-A1, title), A-Z^6 (-A1), Aa-Zz^6, Aaa-Zzz^6; Aaaa-Zzzz^6; 5A-5M^6 (-5M1,2), Nnnnn^4. Lacks general title, first leaf of Genesis, and final two leaves of Revelation - all provided in expert facsimile. Also lacks the final leaf of the Tables.
Binding
Rebound in dark brown calf. Covers with contemporary Cambridge paneled calf with corner fleurons laid down. Spine with five gilt-lined raised bands, one red morocco label with the words “Holy Bible” lettered in gilt, and a date of 1602 to spine. Endpapers renewed. All edges speckled red.
Condition
Pages clean and bright with wide margins throughout; prelims strengthened, reducing woodcut border; A2-4 lower corner repaired without loss; A2-C skillfully reimagined to fore-edge; Ttt6 lower corner torn without loss; Mmmm2 repaired closed tear; 5G-5L (1 Thessalonians onwards) repaired to fore-edge with some loss to sidenotes but not text.
Provenance
Note in contemporary hand to verso of New Testament title reads “Grace ye daughter of Francis Hooper was borne ye second day of February 1665” along with a few other inscriptions. A penciled note to front endpaper by a previous ambitious, and perhaps disingenuous, bookseller reads “Beautiful complete copy. $7,500.”
References
Herbert 268.