{"product_id":"1608-geneva-bible-w-blind-tooled-calf-binding-bound-w-1634-psalter","title":"1608 Geneva Bible W\/ Blind-Tooled Calf Binding, Bound W\/ 1634 Psalter","description":"\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eOffered here is a handsome and historically significant\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGeneva Bible\u003c\/span\u003e, printed in\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLondon by Robert Barker in 1608\u003c\/span\u003e, preserved in its\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003econtemporary blind-tooled calf binding over wooden boards\u003c\/span\u003e. A well-used family Bible for generations, this copy bears numerous early ownership inscriptions, remnants of its original brass clasps, and retains much of its seventeenth-century character.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Geneva Bible remains one of the most influential English translations ever produced. First published in Geneva by English Protestant exiles during the reign of Mary I, it became the household Bible of Elizabethan and Jacobean England. Its extensive marginal notes, clear Roman type, verse numbering, and practical commentary made it immensely popular with ordinary readers and clergy alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis copy was printed just\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ethree years before the publication of the King James Bible in 1611\u003c\/span\u003e, at a time when the Geneva Bible remained the preferred translation throughout much of England and Scotland.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough the general title page is no longer present, the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNew Testament title page dated 1608 survives\u003c\/span\u003e, confirming the printing by\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRobert Barker\u003c\/span\u003e, King's Printer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt some point during its working life, the original Psalter was replaced with a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1634 Cambridge printing of The Whole Book of Psalms\u003c\/span\u003e, demonstrating that this volume continued to be used and maintained well into the seventeenth century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDespite its faults, this remains an attractive and honest example of one of the most important English Bibles ever printed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBlind-tooled calf over wooden boards.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRaised bands to spine.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRemnants of the original brass clasps remain.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe spine is heavily worn with losses to the leather, exposing portions of the sewing structure, though both boards remain attached.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGeneral title page absent.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNew Testament title page present dated 1608.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLater Cambridge Psalter dated 1634 inserted.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOne leaf within Hebrews has substantial loss, together with the usual scattered wear expected from centuries of use. Further collation is recommended, and the volume is offered as photographed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePaper generally clean with pleasing wide margins.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAn attractive unrestored seventeenth-century binding retaining excellent historical character.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFoxing and staining can be found throughout.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMinor page repairs can be found on occasion\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003esome tearing can be found within.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProvenance \u0026amp; Inscriptions:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Bible preserves evidence of several generations of ownership.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe contemporary binding is stamped with the initials\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"E.H.\"\u003c\/span\u003e, almost certainly those of an early owner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmong the surviving manuscript inscriptions are:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\"Benjamin Brewer's Booke\"\u003c\/span\u003e, written on one of the concluding leaves of the Old Testament.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeveral ownership signatures attributed to\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJohn Shorely\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(or Shoreley).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdditional ownership inscriptions relating to a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThomas\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewhose surname is now largely obscured.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNumerous contemporary pen trials and decorative flourishes scattered throughout the preliminary leaves.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA modern bookplate for\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMichael Stoughton\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003erecords a more recent collector.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese inscriptions provide a tangible record of the Bible's long history of ownership and devotional use across more than four centuries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003eOn Michael Stoughton:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eAffixed to the front pastedown is the armorial bookplate of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMichael Stoughton\u003c\/span\u003e, a noted private collector whose library focused on early printed books, particularly English Bibles and works relating to the Reformation. Books bearing his bookplate have appeared in specialist antiquarian book auctions in recent years, including numerous Geneva Bibles, early King James Bibles, Douay-Rheims Bibles, and even fifteenth-century incunabula.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHistorical Background:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen this Bible was printed in\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1608\u003c\/span\u003e, England stood at a pivotal moment in its religious history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKing James VI of Scotland had become\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJames I of England\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eonly five years earlier, uniting the English and Scottish crowns. Religious divisions remained pronounced, with Puritans seeking further reform of the Church of England while the monarchy sought greater religious uniformity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough James had already commissioned a new English translation of the Scriptures at the Hampton Court Conference in 1604, the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKing James Bible would not appear until 1611\u003c\/span\u003e. Consequently, the Geneva Bible continued to dominate English households during this period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIndeed, many of the Pilgrim Fathers who later sailed aboard the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMayflower\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ein 1620 carried Geneva Bibles rather than the newly published King James Version.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrinted during this brief but significant period, this volume represents the final flourishing of the Geneva tradition before the King James Bible gradually replaced it throughout Britain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBibliographical Notes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eBible:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eGeneva Version\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003ePrinter:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eRobert Barker\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003ePlace:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eLondon\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eDate:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e1608\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eEnglish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eBinding:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eContemporary blind-tooled calf over wooden boards\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eLater Addition:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Whole Book of Psalms\u003c\/span\u003e, Cambridge, 1634\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eWeight - 1.55KG\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eHeight - 23.5cm\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eWidth - 18cm\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThickness - 7cm\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Momo Rare Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54468314628435,"sku":null,"price":1900.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0953\/9187\/5411\/files\/IMG_8425.jpg?v=1785686405","url":"https:\/\/www.momorarebooks.co.uk\/products\/1608-geneva-bible-w-blind-tooled-calf-binding-bound-w-1634-psalter","provider":"Momo Rare Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}