Importance: The Bishops’ Bible was first printed in 1568 and was refined up until its final printing in 1602. The Bishops’ Bible, though not as popular as the Geneva Bible, was used as the base text for the next Authorized Version. Robert Barker supplied 40 unbound copies of the 1602 edition to the translators for this project.
According to David Norton, the 1611 HE Folio King James Bible “reproduces peculiarities of the Bishops' Bible, some of which are found only in the 1602 printing. These confirm that it was the original physical copy, [and served as] the base text for the King James Bible.”
Sources: *Norton, David. A Textual History of the King James Bible. Cambridge Univ. Press, 2005. P.35
Binding: Folio (15.5” x 10.5” x 3.25”). 19 lb 1 oz. Rebacked late 18th c. blind and gilt tooled full fine two-toned light and dark brown calf leather binding with all edges sprinkled red. Spine with five raised double blind-filleted bands, and five compartments with blind stamped motifs. Second compartment with red calf leather label and gilt-lettered title in capitals BISHOPS’ BIBLE and sixth compartment 1602. Boards with blind-rolled pattern borders, blind-stamped corners and double blind-filleted rectangular frames with Foliate Motifs. Modern plain endpapers with one original fly-leaf at front and rear. Presumably expertly rebacked in the late 20th c. Light wear.
Provenance: APOC.: (Ttt5v) old paper slip pasted over gothic words Chalgrave Church Bible.
CALENDAR & ALMANAC: (B1v) head margin signed during the early 17th c. by Thomas Phillips.
NT: (Kkkk3v)
APOC.: (Nnn1) Martha B. Balham.
NT: (Oooo4v) with 18th c. manuscript signed Hester Hitchon and John Goodson.
FRONT FLYLEAF: Gwillim family genealogical entries: Thomas Gwillim March 15th 1712 Born, John Gwillim Born Dec. 20th 1743, and Henry Gwillim Born Oct. 10th 1777.
Collation & Notes: PRELIMS: [36] ff.; [72] pp; A-C6 ([A1r] TP), A-C6 ([A1r] GTP & C1-6). OT: 314 ff.; [628] pp; A-Z6, Aa-Zz6, Aaa-Fff6, Ggg1-2r. APOC.: [75] ff.; [150] pp; Ggg3-6, Hhh-Sss6, Ttt5r. NT: 103 ff.; [206] pp; Uuu4-6 ([Uuu4r] TP), Xxx-Zzz6, Aaaa-Nnnn6, Oooo4r. Total [528] ff. & [1,056] pp.
Complete with two original title pages (lacks general title page and prelims C1-6), and John Speed’s later King James Genealogies. Vertical chain lines. One late 18th c. antique wove paper fly-leaf at front and rear. D&M 206. H271. USTC 0. STC 2188. ESTC S122093. WC/OCLC 9.
Condition: ff. (14.875” x 10”). Scattered light damp staining, head & fore-margin borders cut. Prelims: Gutters reinforced & margins remargined. OT: Zz6 & Bbb3-4 lower tail/corner repaired. Hh3 .5” & 2.75” slits in text. Ii5 1” fore-margin tear. Uu1v 1.25”x1.75” text skinned. Gutters reinforced in places (mainly prophets). APOC.: Nnn6 2.75” tail tear into text & Rrr2 .75” head tear. NT: Hhhh1 1.375”x1.75” fore-margin tear into text. Oooo1-4 gutters reinforced. (More info coming soon!)
