{"product_id":"1584-bishops-bible-quarto-christopher-barker-elizabethan-bible-with-psalter","title":"1584 Bishops' Bible Quarto, Christopher Barker, Elizabethan Bible with Psalter","description":"\u003ch1\u003eOverview\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA substantial Elizabethan Bishops' Bible, printed in London in 1584 by Christopher Barker, Printer to Queen Elizabeth I. This quarto edition contains the Old and New Testaments, the Apocrypha, a woodcut map of the Holy Land and a separately printed metrical Psalter dated 1584.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe volume retains its elaborately illustrated New Testament title page, which has been relocated to the beginning of the Bible. It also preserves Barker's dated imprint beneath the royal arms of Elizabeth I, together with historical ownership inscriptions, including one dated 1690.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBound in handsome later black leather with blind-tooled floral borders and an elaborately gilt spine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHistorical Significance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFirst published in 1568 under the direction of Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishops' Bible was produced for use within the established Church of England during the reign of Elizabeth I.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was intended to provide an alternative to the increasingly popular Geneva Bible and became an important predecessor to the King James Bible of 1611. The translators of the King James Version were instructed to use the Bishops' Bible as their principal English reference text, revising it where necessary.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 1584 printing belongs to the later Elizabethan period, when England's religious settlement was becoming firmly established and the printing of English Bibles remained subject to royal privilege.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePrinter: Christopher Barker\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChristopher Barker was one of the most important English Bible printers of the Elizabethan period. Appointed Queen's Printer in 1577, he held valuable privileges for printing English Bibles and other official publications.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis copy retains his 1584 imprint, accompanied by the royal arms of Elizabeth I, featuring the crowned shield supported by a lion and dragon and the royal motto \u003cspan\u003eDieu et mon droit\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe separately bound metrical Psalter was printed by John Day, another prominent Elizabethan printer whose work contributed significantly to the development of Protestant religious printing in England.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eIllustrations and Additional Material\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIllustrated New Testament title page\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDated 1584, with an elaborate architectural woodcut border incorporating the royal arms, figures representing Faith and Humility, and the traditional symbols of the four Evangelists. This title page has been relocated to the beginning of the volume.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWoodcut map of the Holy Land\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn attractive map illustrating locations mentioned in the four Gospels, including Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee. It features a sailing ship in the Mediterranean and a geographical scale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Apocrypha\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Apocrypha is present, including the books of Esdras, forming part of the Bible's original sequence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1584 Metrical Psalter\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBound with \u003cspan\u003eThe Whole Booke of Psalmes\u003c\/span\u003e, translated into English metre by Thomas Sternhold, John Hopkins and others. Printed in London by John Day in 1584, with its own illustrated title page.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eProvenance and Inscriptions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe volume contains historical handwritten inscriptions, including one dated 1690, demonstrating its continued ownership and use more than a century after publication.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne particularly interesting inscription appears on the reverse of Barker's imprint and incorporates a religious verse concerning entering a house and the importance of discretion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFurther ownership markings are present elsewhere in the volume.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCondition and Collation\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA substantial surviving copy, preserved in a handsome later black leather binding with blind-tooled floral borders, raised spine bands, gilt decoration and a red title label.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe general title page is absent. The original illustrated New Testament title page survives but has been relocated to the beginning of the volume.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Bible has been fully collated, with the following notable details:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e26 preliminary leaves recorded.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOld Testament and Apocrypha present, with signatures A–III.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNew Testament present, with signatures AAAA–PPPP, including the displaced title page.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWoodcut map of the Holy Land present.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChristopher Barker's 1584 imprint and royal arms present.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeparately printed 1584 John Day Psalter present.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRecorded defects:\u003c\/span\u003e Q5 has been trimmed into the text. FF3 has a chipped corner without text loss, and XX4 has a small marginal tear. Several leaves of the Psalter, from G5 to H6, are adhered together at their upper corners.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe text block displays occasional staining, marginal wear and minor tears consistent with its age. The later binding presents attractively.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe general title page is absent, and the relocated New Testament title page should be noted when consulting the collation. No further missing leaves were identified in the supplied collation, although completeness against the published bibliographical description has not been independently verified.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Buy This Bible?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn attractive example of an Elizabethan Bishops' Bible, combining important historical significance with several desirable surviving features: its illustrated 1584 New Testament title, Holy Land map, royal printer's imprint, Apocrypha and contemporary metrical Psalter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts substantial survival, early inscriptions and decorative later binding make it an appealing acquisition for collectors of early English Bibles, Elizabethan printing and the history of the English Reformation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeight - 1.5kg\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeight - 21,5cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWidth - 16.5cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThickness - 7cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Momo Rare Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55129541542227,"sku":null,"price":4500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0953\/9187\/5411\/files\/IMG_8802.jpg?v=1790782086","url":"https:\/\/www.momorarebooks.co.uk\/products\/1584-bishops-bible-quarto-christopher-barker-elizabethan-bible-with-psalter","provider":"Momo Rare Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}