Beschreibung:

BIBLE, English. The Holy Bible, conteyning the Old Testament, and the New: Newly Translated out of the Originall Tongues: & with the former Translations diligently compared and revised by His Maiesties Speciall Commandment. Appointed to be read in Churches . London: Robert Barker 1611. Royal 2 o (408 x 266 mm). Collation : A 6 ; B 2 ; C 6 ; D 4 ; 2 A-C 6 ; D 2 ; A-Ccccc 6 ; 3 A- 2 Aa 6 . 752 leaves. Gothic and Roman types, text double column and printed within woodcut rule-border. Calendar and almanac printed in red and black. Letter-press general title-page and section title for the New Testament within woodcut border [McKerrow & Ferguson 213] (general title and conjugate A6 with a few skilful marginal repairs just touching border). Full-sheet engraved map of the Holy Land by John Speed after Dr. John More (trimmed just touching left border, small abrasion in lower center affecting small engraved element). 17 leaves of genealogical tables incorporating woodcut illustrations of Adam and Eve, Noah's Ark, the Tower of Babel and other Biblical subjects. Numerous woodcut head- and tail-pieces, historiated and ornamental initials. (A few small wax stains on Qqq3, small rust hole on 2 X1 catching a letter and woodcut initial, single marginal wormhole in the last three quires catching a few rule-borders, slight fraying to lower margin of final leaf, a few leaves lightly browned, some pale marginal dampstaining at end, a few discreet marginal repairs, otherwise very fine and crisp.) Binding : late 17th-century English dark green morocco, covers gilt-panelled, outer panel formed by a narrow scrolling-floral roll and double-fillet, second panel of dots with rose tools at corners mitred to a triple-fillet panel, inner panel of triple-fillets with floral tools at corners, central floral device built up from smaller tools, spine richly gilt with floral tools in nine compartments, with eight raised bands, board-edges and turn-ins gilt, edges gilt (hinges a bit weak, lacking ties); modern green morocco slipcase. Provenance : Frank Hogan (morocco bookplate) sold Parke-Bernet, New York, 23 April 1946, lot 9 -- Estelle Doheny (morocco bookplate). FIRST EDITION OF THE KING JAMES OR ROYAL, VERSION OF THE BIBLE, WITH THE RARE WOODCUT TITLE-PAGE, found in only a few copies of the "He" issue. Two editions of the lectern-size King James Bible were printed in close succession and their priority was long debated until the Rev. W.E. Smith settled the matter in 1890. The two editions are most easily distinguished by the readings of Ruth 3:15 (Bb2r). The first edition reads "and he went into the city" (following the Hebrew text) while the second edition reads "and she went" (following the Latin Vulgate version). While most copies of the "He" Bible have an engraved general title-page by Christian Boel, the present is one of a "few copies" (Darlow and Moule) with the general title printed within the woodcut border. The woodcut border shows the four evangelists writing their Gospels, flanked by the tents of the twelve tribes of Israel and by the twelve disciples. It was first used in some copies of the 1602 Bishops' Bible and was used in a few copies of the 1611 Royal Version presumably because Boel's engraved title was not completed when printing began. The Pforzheimer catalogue ignores the earlier appearance of the woodcut title and states that "there is no real evidence that the woodcut compartment was actually prepared before the copperplate." In fact, it seems most likely that the woodcut title-border was not only issued with the "He" Bible, but that it belongs to the earliest copies printed. Preparation of the Royal Version took more than five years and was laboriously attended to by over fifty translators and researchers. Six separate groups were assigned a specific section of the Scriptures and each made a preliminary translation under the direction of Lancelot Andrewes, Edward Lively and John Harding The final translations were then exchang