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Greek Text after ERASMUS & Ceporinus
Illustrations after Graf & HOLBEIN
Bible. N.T. Greek. 1535. [one line in Greek, romanized as] Tes Kaines Diathekes Hapanta [then in Latin] Noui Testamenti omnia. [colophon: Basileae: apvd Io, Bebelium {for Johann Schabler, called Wattenschnee}, 1535. 8vo (16 cm, 6.25"). [8], 367, [1] ff.
$2500.00
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Jakob Ceporinus (1499–1525, born Jakob Wiesendanger), the editor of this Greek Testament, was
a Swiss humanist who attended the universities of Cologne and Vienna and acquired knowledge of Hebrew by studying with the German humanist Johannes Reuchlin in Ingolstadt. He worked in Basel as a proofreader for a printing house, settled in Zurich, and in April of 1525 was appointed as
the first Reader of Greek and Hebrew at Zwingli's school of theology in Zurich. He died unexpectedly in December 1525.
The first edition of his Greek New Testament appeared in 1524 from the same printer as this third edition of 1535 and like that first closely follows the Erasmus third edition, with a few variants and independent readings. Also as with the 1524 edition, the title-page has
four woodcuts after Urs Graf representing the evangelists, and that leaf is followed by Oecolampadius' “In sacrarum literarum lectionem . . . exhortatio” (pi 2–7).
The work was published at the expense of Johann Schabler, called Wattenschnee, whose device with motto “Durum pacientia frango” is on the verso of last leaf. The Testament text is in Greek only and each book begins with a woodcut headpiece and a historiated initial, with some initials after Dance of Death designs by
Hans Holbein.
Reuss lists this among “Editiones Erasmicae.”
Provenance: 19th-century signature on front fly-leaf of W.C.S. Tole (?); most recently in the library of American collector Albert A. Howard, small booklabel (“AHA”) at rear.
VD16 B4180; Adams B1653; Reuss, Bibliotheca Novi Testamenti Graeci, p. 33. Not in Darlow & Moule, but see 4601 for the first editon. 18th-century full calf, no raised bands, round spine gilt extra; spine pulled at head, front joint sometime repaired taking part of the label and some gilt on that side with volume now strong, corners rubbed and some old abrasions.
Interior with a very few instances of old marginalia; type splendidly sharp on very clean pages. (40636)

Greek Psalms from the
Bibliotheca Heberiana
Bible. O.T. Psalms. Greek. 1555. Dolscius. [transliterated from Greek] Davidou prophetper Ioannem Oporinumou kai basileos melos, elegeiois perieilemmenon hypo Paulou tou Dolskiou Plaeos [then in Latin] Psalterium prophetae et regis Dauidis, uersibus elegiacis redditum a Pavlo Dolscio Plauensi. Basileae: per Ioannem Oporinum, [colophon: 1555]. 8vo (15.9 cm, 6.25"). [16], 341, [7] pp.
$1250.00
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Sole edition of these Greek paraphrased psalms, done by Paul Dolscius while he was serving as a rector in Halle. Melanchthon was a great supporter of Dolscius (1526–89), whose translation work was so proficient that at one point his authorial byline on the Greek translation of the Augsburg Confession was assumed to be merely a pseudonym for the great reformer himself.
The text here is simply printed with the Latin preface in roman and the main text in Greek using single columns; a 5-line decorative initial and a 7-line inhabited one (showing two kings in profile) complete the work. This is now an uncommon edition, with searches of Worldcat, COPAC, USTC, and NUC Pre-1956 revealing only three U.S. institutions reporting ownership.
Provenance: An inked ownership stamp of notable 19th-century English bibliomaniac Richard Heber (1774–1833), reading “Bibliotheca Heberiana,” appears on the front free endpaper; Thomas Frognall Dibdin added this stamp to select rare books in Heber's collection following the collector's death. Most recently in the library of American collector Albert A. Howard, small booklabel (“AHA”) at rear.
Bibliotheca Palatina F5048/F5049; VD16 B3122; USTC 626665. Not in Adams; not in Darlow & Moule. On Dolscius, see: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (online). 19th-century half calf and paste paper–covered boards, spine with gilt rolls and green leather gilt title-label, all edges stained blue; rubbed, slight loss of leather on front joint (outside) and corners, a few small spots and leather repairs, isolated glue action to endpapers. Light age-toning with occasional slivers of marginal staining (possibly thanks to the blue edge stain?), one interior tear touching letters and two marginal spots. Provenance indicia as above, small round paper shelflabel on spine, a few bibliographical notes pencilled on endpapers.
A skillfully produced work with a pleasing provenance. (39566)

A Protestant Italian Bible — With Woodcuts
Bible. Italian. 1562. Brucioli. La Bibia, che si chiama Il vecchio Testamento, nuouamente tradutto in lingua volgare secondo la verità del testo Hebreo ... Quanto al nuouo Testamento è stato riueduto e ricorretto secondo la verità del testo Greco.... [Geneva]: Stampato Appresso Francesco Durone, 1562. 4to (26.2 cm; 10.375'). [6] ff., 465 (i.e., 467), [1], 110, [18] ff., [1] folding plt. (facsim), [1] folding table (facsim); illus.
$4275.00
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A much revised edition of Brucioli's Old Testament married to Massimo Teofilo's New Testament, printed for Genevan Protestant refugees and meant to be spirited into Italy for crypto-Protestants. Darlow and Moule note that “this edition closely resembles certain contemporary French and English Bibles printed at Geneva. The woodcuts are the same as those in the French Bible of 1560 printed by Antoine Rebul . . . , and the type is that of the English Geneva Bible of 1560.” Of the two variations described in Darlow and Moule, this copy is variant A, meaning that the N.T. has marginal notes similar to those of the rest of the text; Darlow and Moule also tell us that “[t]his revision. . . has been ascribed to Filippo Rusticio, or Rustico.”
The work offers a handsome printer's device on its title-page, along with
24 in-text
woodcuts of various sizes, all located in the Old Testament, and a folding plate, “La forma de la restauration del Tempio.” A second folding plate contains a table of the passion timeline. At the end of the edition's O.T. is a two-page commentary on “Lo stato dei giudei sotto la monarchia dei Romani,” i.e., the state of the Jews in [ancient] Rome.
Adams B1198; Darlow & Moule 5592. For more on Italian editions of the Bible, see: Pelikan, The Reformation of the Bible; the Bible of the Reformation, p. 60. 18th-century vellum over boards with narrow yapp edges, spine ruled in gilt, covers framed in gilt with gilt arabesque centerpiece, remnants of green silk ties; small sticker on spine, front joint just starting, pastedowns lost with turn-ins starting to warp and fly-leaves (due to this) tattered at edges. Light pencilling/inking on inside front board, and evidence of bookplate no longer present. Age-toning variously with light, often very faint waterstaining to most bottom corners; signature on title-page, a few worn edges or unevenly trimmed leaves, one repaired corner, occasionally a spot, and a number of leaves creased across lower outer corner. Folding plate and folding table both in excellent facsimile, laid in.
A sturdy, relatively affordable copy of this beautiful book. (37300)

“I Consider It a Great Curiosity”
Bible. N.T. Greek & Latin. Arias Montano. 1572. Novvm Testamentvm Graece, cum vulgata interpretatione Latina Graeci contextus lineis inserta ... [Heidelberg]: Ex officina Commeliniana, 1599. 8vo (19.9 cm, 7.75"). [14], 827, [1] pp. Lacks interior blank (only).
$925.00
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One of the last 16th-century interlinear editions of the Greek New Testament and Vulgate Latin, as first presented in Plantin's monumental Royal Antwerp Polyglot Bible of 1569–72. The text is printed in Greek with the Vulgate in roman type inter-linearly; additionally, there are decorative letters, and head- and tailpieces. When the Vulgate differs from the Greek, its text is printed in the margin as a shouldernote and a literal Latin rendering by the great Spanish theologian Benedictus Arias Montanus (a.k.a. Benito Arias Montano) is printed in italics in the text. The Commelin device appears on the title-page, which describes this printing as “Editio postrema, multò quàm antehac emendatior.”
Evidence of Readership: Marginal notes or accents in at least two early hands have been added in ink in two dozen–plus places, with one page used for scribbling and content ranging from a squiggle to a word to real notes; two Latin words and the publication date, in Arabic numerals under the publisher's roman, have been inked to the title-page.
Provenance: Early calligraphic ownership note of “Dudley” dated 1843 on binder's blank; later ownership signature of E.F. Whitehouse with the shelfmark 354 and an acquisition note
including the collectorly report, “It was all to bits, I had it bound and consider it a great curiosity.”
Adams B1716; Darlow & Moule 4656a; VD16 ZV 1904; USTC 440704. Recent half brown calf and mustard buckram cloth, red leather spine label lettered in gilt, all edges speckled brown, new endpapers; very gently rubbed, one short tear at bottom gutter of binder's blank. Light age-toning and waterstaining of various darknesses throughout most of the text with the occasional spot. The title leaf has been backed with a later paper with no loss of content; interior blank (only) lacking as above, three leaves with small interior holes affecting letters, two leaves with marginal sections torn away. Readership and provenance evidence as above, with some inked notes trimmed or bled onto surrounding leaves.
Read and engaged with by multiple people, and all the more intriguing because of it. (39429)

HEAVILY ANNOTATED — The Gospels & Acts in an Important Edition
Bible. N.T. Greek & Latin. 1588. Testamentum Novum, sive novum foedus Iesu Christi, D.N. Cuius Graeco contextui respondent interpretationes duae: vna, vetus altera, Theodori Bezae, nunc quartò diligenter ab eo recognita... [Genevae]: [Henricus Stephanus], 1588. Folio (33 cm; 13"). [6] ff., 555, [1 (blank)] pp., [8] ff. (lacks final blank leaf); lacks vol. II (Epistles, Revelation).
$2500.00
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An interleaved and heavily annotated copy of the Gospels and Acts of “Beza's third major edition [of the Greek New Testament]. The text follows that of the second major edition (1582) with only five exceptions” (Darlow and Moule).
One should note that the title-page proclaims this “quarta editio,” and that this is Estienne's third folio printing of Beza's N.T.
Beza's New Testament Greek text is here accompanied by his Latin and the Vulgate (i.e., Catholic Latin) translations, the trio appearing in parallel columns on each page with
extensive notes that often fill as much as one-third to one-half of a page and with parallel references additionally set in the margins. The volume's title-page is printed in red and black and bears Henri Estienne's printer's device; a different finely wrought woodcut headpiece opens each book, with each column on those pages bearing a woodcut initial at its head, and a few of the books of the N.T. end with woodcut tailpieces.
Evidence of readership: An interleaved copy with
the vast majority of the leaves bearing an early 19th-century reader's notes and annotations. The notes cite references published as late as 1809 and it is clear that the natively German-speaking scholar was comfortable in Greek, Hebrew, Latin, and English.
Provenance: Ownership signature on title-page of Leon St. Vincent. Later in The Howell Bible Collection, Pacific School of Religion (properly released; no markings).
The paper stock used for the interleaving has the classic ProPatria watermark and that and its countermark match Churchill's 151, which has a starting date of 1799.
Darlow & Moule 4650; Adams B1711. On the interleaves' watermarks, see: Churchill, Watermarks in paper in Holland, England, France, etc., in the XVII and XVIII centuries. 19th-century half vellum with German pastepaper over boards, spine with tinted and tooled label, text recased and new endpapers; vol. I (only) of this production, without the Epistles and Revelation. Title-page creased and dust-soiled, all leaves before pp. 9/10 rodent-gnawed in lower outside corner with loss of paper but not of text or manuscript annotation, and a bit of light waterstaining to rearmost leaves only.
An important edition and a singular copy. (37032)

A Catholic Bible The Second Edition, REVISED Vervliet, 1600
Bible. N.T. English. 1600.
Rheims. The New Testament of Iesus Christ, faithfully translated into English, out of the authentical Latin, diligently conferred with the Greeke, and other editions in divers languages. Antwerp: By Daniel Vervliet, 1600. Small 4to (21 cm; 8.25"). [18] ff., 745, [1] pp., [13] ff.
$3200.00
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The second edition of the Roman Catholic new Testament in English. The translation is the work of a number of English Catholic priests, but principally of Gregory Martin, who fled to France in 1568 because of persecution in their native land, and, under the direction of Dr. (later, Cardinal) William Allen, founded the English College at Douai. (The college moved for a short time to Rheims, but subsequently returned, as the title-page here attests.)
The first edition of this translation was issued at Rheims in 1582, in over-sanguine hopes that its sale would be successful enough to underwrite the cost of a prompt production of the Old Testament. The two-volume O.T. did not appear, however, until 1609/1610.
The second edition of the Rheims N.T. is a revision of the first, not merely a reprinting of it, and contains a “Table of Heretical Corruptions” not found in the 1582 printing and a new preface. In an era of noticeable decline in the art of printing, this Testament enjoys far better than average typography.
Darlow & Moule 198; Herbert 258; STC 2989; ESTC S102510. Late 17th-, early 18th-century English calf, with concentric blind panels on covers in contrasting tones of brown and tan, all edges deep red; covers with scrapes and bumps, rebacked with hinges (inside) strengthened, new endpapers with 1906 owner's inscription on front free one. Title-page dust-soiled and torn in upper margin with some loss of decorative border, page skillfully remargined with blank paper. Some foxing and age-soiling in early leaves; this similarly at rear (starting around p. 640 and most notable in Tables), with also some dust-soiling and with light waterstaining across a good number of upper outer corners. Overall a good to very good copy, sturdy and appealing. (33612)

KJV Bifolium, 1611
Bible. English. 1611. Authorized (i.e., “King James Version”). Bifolium extracted from the Old Testament of the first edition of the King James Version of the Bible. London: Imprinted ... by Robert Barker, 1611. Folio (39.8 cm, 15.625"). [2] ff. (i.e., 4 pp.).
$500.00
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Nehemiah 7:11–9:29, from the first edition of the English translation best known to the vast majority of the English-speaking world, i.e., the King James Bible. The text is printed in large English black-letter (i.e., gothic type) with the occasional use of roman, composed in double-column format with 59 lines per column and marginal notes, all sections ruled in black.
Present on this bifolium are two large woodcut initials, one being an “A” on a field of foliage and another an “N” within an arabesque square.Provenance: From the leaf collection of printing specimens of the Grabhorn press.
STC (rev. ed.) 2216; Darlow & Moule 309. Disbound. Light age-toning, a few very short tears along edges and creases at corners, with one chipped edge and evidence of three small wormholes. (38319)

Fulke's Refutation — THE ENGLISH CATHOLIC BIBLE
Bible. N.T. English. Rheims–Bishops' version. 1633. The text of the New Testament of Iesus Christ, translated out of the vulgar Latine by the Papists of the traiterous Seminarie at Rhemes ... Whereunto is added the translation out of the original Greeke, commonly used in the Church of England. London: Pr. by Augustine Mathewes on[e] of the assignes of Hester Ogden, 1633. Folio (33.3 cm, 13.25"). Frontis., engr. t.-p., [58], 912, [18], 25, [1], 206, [2], 17, [1 (blank)] pp.
$2775.00
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When the Jesuit scholars at Rheims succeeded in printing their Catholic translation of the New Testament into English (first edition, 1582), the event affected various English Protestant scholars in different ways: Some were offended or outraged, others intrigued, and yet others spurred to action. William Fulke, of Pembroke College, Cambridge, was among those offended, outraged, and spurred: In 1589 he produced the first edition of his work attempting to refute the Rheims New Testament. His approach, however — which was to print the Rheims NT in parallel columns with the Bishops' NT (the then accepted version of the Church of England), supplying accompanying notes and explanations — had unforeseen consequences.
As Darlow and Moule comment, “by printing the Rheims Testament in full, side by side with the Bishops' version, [Fulke] secured for the former a publicity which it would not otherwise have obtained, and was indirectly responsible for the marked influence which Rheims exerted on the Bible of 1611.” Alan Thomas elaborates by observing that “many a dignified or felicitous phrase was silently lifted by the editors of King James's Version, and thus passed into the language” (Great Books and Book Collectors, p. 108).
This is the fourth edition, “wherein are many grosse absurdities corrected.” A portrait of William Fulke precedes the engraved title-page, both done by William Marshall. The Biblical text is followed (as issued) by Fulke's Defense of the Sincere and True Translation of the Holy Scriptures into the English Tongue, against the Manifold Cavils, Frivolous Quarrels, and Impudent Slanders of Gregorie Martin.
STC (2nd ed.) 2947; Darlow & Moule 371; ESTC S121246; Herbert 480. Contemporary mottled calf, covers framed and panelled in gilt double fillets with gilt-stamped corner fleurons, spine with gilt-stamped leather title-label, all edges gilt; binding rubbed, leather moderately acid-pitted, joints cracked, rectangle of leather lost at upper inner corner of front cover. Lower edges of closed book rubber-stamped; free endpapers excised; lower outer corners lightly waterstained at rear; pages otherwise slightly age-toned but notably clean. A sound, good copy. (24066)

MORE! Than Meets the Eye
Bible. N.T. Greek. 1633. [in Greek, transliterated as] Tēs Kainēs Diathēkēs apanta. [then in roman] Novi Testamenti libri omnes, recens nunc editi: cum notis & animaduersionibus doctissimorum, praesertim vero, Roberti Stephani, Josephi Scaligeri, Isaaci Casauboni. Variae item lectiones ex antiquissimis exemplaribus, & celeberrimis bibliothecis, desumptae. Londini [i.e., Leiden]: Apud [B. and A. Elzevir for] Richardum Whittakerum, bibliopolam, 1633. 8vo (17 cm, 6.625"). [8], 459, [13] pp.
$875.00
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“Surprise” Elzevir New Testament with an interesting production history: Darlow and Moule note that this “London, Whittaker” text was printed by the Elzevir press in Leyden and later sold under their name in 1641, with all but four passages — three of these taken from the 1576 H. Stephanus' edition — matching the second Elzevir edition of 1633. The supplementary notes, indeed by R. Whittaker, come however from the 1622 Greek Testament printed by J. Bill of London. Notes by Robert Estienne, Joseph Juste Scaliger, and Isaac Casaubon follow the New Testament.

The text is pleasingly printed in two columns using Greek type with numbered verses and woodcut initials at the start of each book; the dedication and some notes appear in Latin with woodcut initials and one decorative headpiece. One of the Elzevirs' “Non solus” printer's devices also appears on the title-page, and this is the edition where *4v contains the last line: “tem opportunitatis . . . Vale.”
Binding: 18th-century black morocco, spine gilt with spiky-floral compartment stamps surrounded by frames of rules and dots; covers framed in gilt and blind with roll of scallops, dashes, and fillets and with same spine ornament gilt at corners. Turn-ins with gilt floral roll a little extending onto board edges, double-combed marbled endpapers, all edges gilt.
Provenance: On front free endpaper, 18th-century inked signature of Charles Mays (or Mayo or Mayor) and 19th-century gift inscription “Charles H. Roberts M.A. from Fred Renshaw(e)”; most recently in the library of American collector Albert A. Howard, small booklabel (“AHA”) at rear.
ESTC S90878; Darlow & Moule 4680; STC (rev. ed.) 2798.5; Willems 397. Bound as above, rubbed, hinges (inside) starting to crack, the whole still attractive and the volume strong; text with the occasional spot, very faint waterstaining through perhaps a third of the text, and top edges closely trimmed touching headers on a few leaves. Provenance indicia as above, later pencilled bibliographical citations on front free endpaper, and “1633" on endpaper in ink.
A production both erudite and aesthetically pleasing. (38430)

First
Folio Greek N.T. Printed in England
Bible. N.T. Greek. 1642. Jesu Christi Domini Nostri Novum Testamentum, sive Novum Foedus, cujus Græco contextui respondent interpretationes duæ: una, vetus; altera, Theodori Bezæ.... Cantabrigiae: Ex officina Rogeri Danielis, 1642. Folio (37.5 cm, 14.5"). [8], [10] ff., 766 (i.e., 764) pp., [12] ff., 125, [1 (blank)] pp., [2], [1 (blank)] ff.
$800.00
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In 1565 Theodore Beza (1519–1605, also de Bèsze or Bèze), Calvin's chief assistant and successor as leader of his reform movement, first published his edition of the Greek New Testament with the Vulgate and his own Latin translation. For the edition of 1582, he revised his text based on the discovery of the important Codex Bezae (Codex D), a manuscript of the Gospels and Acts probably written in the 5th century and the principal witness to the Western textual tradition of the New Testament. Beza personally owned this codex and presented it to Cambridge University in 1581.
This is the first folio edition of the Greek New Testament to be printed in England as well as the
first Greek–Latin edition of Beza's New Testament to be printed there. It is also considered by the ODCC to be the best edition of Beza's Latin translation of the New Testament. The text is based on Beza's fourth (and last) edition of 1598 and includes his annotations. Joachim Camerarius's commentary on the New Testament is appended at the end with its own sectional title-page and pagination.
Handsomely printed with an
engraved printer's device on the title-page by Wenceslas Hollar and woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces, this edition has the text in three parallel columns (Greek, Beza's Latin version, and the Vulgate) with a wealth of commentary above and below. The title-page exists in three states: the present one is printed in black only and lists the print-shop of Roger Daniel without “Londini venales prostant.”
Provenance: 1710 ownership signature of “R. Holde[----?].” Later in the library of American collector Albert A. Howard, small booklabel (“AHA”) at rear.
Wing (rev.) 2728A; ESTC R35303; Darlow & Moule 4686; not in Rumball-Petre, Rare Bibles. On Beza, see: Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church 166–67. On the Western text of the N.T., see: Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church 1470–71. Contemporary Dutch-style vellum over pasteboards with central blind-stamped medallion on both boards within a blind double-rule frame; vellum split along front joint (outside) and peeling at top and bottom of spine. Evidence of silk ties. Title-leaf with dust-soiling and discoloration at inner margin; dust-soiling and light water- or dampstaining variably elsewhere. Overall a sound, decent copy. (40055)

Gutbier's Labor of Love — Printed on the
Editor's Own Press
Bible. N.T. Syriac. 1664. Novum domini nostri Jesu Christi Testamentum Syriace, cum punctis vocalibus, & versione Latina Matthaei ... plene & emendate editum, accurante Aegidio Gutbirio. Hamburgi: Typis & impensis authoris, 1664. 8vo (17.2 cm, 6.75"). [32], 218, 281–604 pp.
$750.00
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First edition of Gilles Gutbier's acclaimed Syriac New Testament,
produced at the author's own expense using types he cut himself. Gutbier (1617–67), a distinguished professor at Hamburg, was universally recognized as one of the leading Orientalists of his era. His work on this New Testament was based on all of the previously published Syriac editions and on two unpublished manuscripts, one of which had belonged to the emperor Constantine. Darlow and Moule note that Gutbier also includes the previously missing “five books, the 'pericope de adulter' and the 'comma Johanneum.'”
This copy has the additional engraved title-page (dated 1663) but is not one of the variant issues that include the supplementary pieces mentioned on that title. The printed title-page present here matches Darlow and Moule's state d.
Binding: Contemporary calf, round spine, gilt spine extra, handsome metal and leather closures with gilt tooling on the leather; very pretty, simple single gilt-roll border on each board. German floral paste-decorated endpapers and all edges red.
Provenance: Ownership signatures of I. Duvarus (1774); J.G. Drunnburg (1822) Johann O. Nordendam (1830) on front fly-leaf.
Darlow & Moule 8966; Graesse 103. Leather “shellacked” and shiny; volume now solid with front board reattached using the long-fiber method and areas of spine similarly improved. A sophisticated copy: four leaves of the prefactory matter (b1–4) are inserted from a small copy (possibly even a different edition). Some early underscoring; overall
very decent as a text and very attractive on shelf or in hand. (36974)

Printed in England in 1665 & Bound in
AMERICA in 1829
Bible. O.T. Greek. Septuagint. 1665. [four lines in Greek, then] Vetus testamentum graecum ex versione Septuaginta interpretum, juxta exemplar Vaticanum Romae editum. Cantabrigiae: Excusum per Joannem Field, 1665. 12mo (14 cm; 5.5"). [1] f., 19, [1], 755 [i.e. 767, 1], 516 pp. (without the initial blank).
$1800.00
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The second English edition of the Septuagint. There are different issues: This a copy of the one with the third word of the Greek title readiing “Diathēche” and not “Diathēke” and with the printer's device showing the man holding the sun in his left hand. Thus, this is Darlow and Moule issue “B.”
Thomas Jefferson owned a copy of one of the issues of this edition.
Provenance: Manuscript ownership inscription of John Ray dated 1716 (on retained fly-leaf); ownership signature of Robert L. Wilson, New York, 1818 (on title-page); gilt supra-libros of Barzillai Slosson, dated 1829. Later in the Howell Bible Collection, Pacific School of Religion (properly released).
Binding: American binding of dark blue goat, richly gilt, with wide floral border on covers and spine distinctively gilt using rules and floral roll. Board edges with a gilt roll; turn-ins gilt tooled. Marbled endpapers. All edges gilt. Gilt supra-libros of Barzillai Slosson as above. Unsigned.
Barzillai Slosson may have been related to the lawyer of the same name who was active in Kent, CT, at the end of the 18th century and into the fourth decade of the 19th, whose account books are in the Yale Law Library; perhaps, the Barzillai who graduated from Columbia College in 1818 and later moved to Geneva, NY, where he was active and successful in business and civic affairs.
Wing (rev. ed.) B2719. Darlow & Moule; 4702; ESTC R236848; Sowerby, Catalogue of the library of Thomas Jefferson, 1473. Binding as above, lightly rubbed. Pages closely cropped in the 19th-century rebinding and some initial or final letters touched or lost. Very good. (34786)

First Complete Bible Printed in the NEW WORLD
in a European Language
An Imperfect Copy (Priced Accordingly!) Still Treasurable!
Bible. German. 1743. Luther. [Biblia, das ist: Die Heilige Schrift Altes und Neues Testaments, nach der Deutschen Uebersetzung D. Martin Luthers, mit jedes Capitels kurzen Summarien, auch beygefügten vielen und richtigen Parllelen {sic}. Germantown: Gedruckt bey Christoph Saur, 1743]. 4to (26.3 cm, 10.375"). [2] ff. (supplied in facsimile), 995, [1 (blank)], 277, [1] pp., [1] f.
$6000.00
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1743 saw the first complete Bible in a European language printed in the New World, in — of all places — Germantown, Pa., and in — of all languages — German. The colonial powers had granted monopolies for Bible printing to “home” publishers and their products were priced sufficiently low to discourage illegal printing by colonial printers, which left it to German-Americans — a people here as independent settlers, not “colonists” — to first print a Bible of their own. Christopher Saur (or Sower, as he Englished it) was something of a renaissance man, university educated and a physician, and he used his connections in Germany to obtain the gift of the fraktur type used in this Bible. It was printed in an edition of 1200 copies, and cost 18 shillings. Another complete American Bible did not follow until Saur’s son, also Christopher, published a further edition in 1763.
Arndt lists three states for this edition, of which this appears to be C, based on the absence of a two-leaf addendum giving a short history of Bible translation — that a buyer could choose to have bound in or not.
Rumball-Petre, Rare Bibles, 159; Darlow & Moule 4240; O’Callaghan 22; Wright, Early Bibles of America, 24–44; Evans 5127–28; Sabin 5191; Arndt, The First Century of German Language Printing in the United States of America, 47C; Hildeburn, The Issues of the Press in Pennsylvania, 1685-1784, 804. Contemporary calf over bevelled boards; binding scratched and abraded with tears to spine leather, hinges (inside) open. First two leaves lacking (i.e., main title-page and preface) and title-page supplied in facsimile. A printed poem has been affixed to the front pastedown, over a strip of cloth. Ownership inscriptions in German (in gothic cursive) and English on endpapers. Pp. 1–2 with loss of part of margins, some text, and part of headpiece, repaired with paper. Lightly age-toned with darker brown-spotting, some waterstaining, occasional dog ears, and some holing or chipping in the margins — some of the latter repaired with paper. The New Testament title-page is present. (5689)

A Distinguished Provenance, an Interesting Format,
& Just a Bit of Contemporary Marginalia
Bible. German. 1766. Luther. Biblia, das ist: Die gantze Heil. Schrift Altes und Neues Testaments. Halle: Waysenhaus, 1766. 4to (22.2 cm; 8.75"). 10, [2], 1079, [1], 308, [4] pp.
$7750.00
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This Bible was specifically designed and printed for the reader to annotate: the pages measure 8.5" x 6.75" and the text area only 5.5" x 2.875", leaving 1.5" to 2.25" of margin for notes on either side and 1" in the upper margin with 2" in the lower.
An early owner did just that, not heavily, but here and there in both the Old and New Testaments. It was owned by a member of an American scholarly and clerical family that had not one but two generations of association with the city of Halle, which was a mecca and fount of the Pietism that drove so much of the early German religious migration to America.
Provenance: Signature of G. Henry Muhlenberg, dated 1784, on the front free endpaper; later ownership signature of Jacob Strein (1814) on same. Gotthilf Heinrich Ernst Muhlenberg (1753–1815) was the son of Heinrich Melchior Muhlenberg, one of the founders of the German Lutheran church in the U.S. and a pastor of Pietist background whose first post, after completing his studies, was a teaching position at the Francke Foundation's Historic Orphanage — of which the “Waysenhaus” that printed this volume was the working press. His son, born in Trappe, PA, and recorded above as owner of this book, was sent to be educated in Halle starting in 1763, entering the University in 1769. After his return to Pennsylvania in 1770, he was ordained a Lutheran minister and later received a Doctor of Divinity degree from Princeton University, while becoming known as a significant American botanist; in 1787 he was made the first president of Franklin College, now Franklin & Marshall College. Strein was a fellow Lancaster County pastor.
Of this scholar-serving production of this scholarly press in its hyper-scholarly city, we find but three library copies reported, all in Germany.
Darlow & Moule 4251. Contemporary plain brown calf, rebacked, original spine retained, with modest ruling at cover edges, rubbed and abraded with offsetting to edges of first and last leaves from the leather; round, plain spine with five raised bands and no label, leather lost at top and bottom with rear joint opening and leather wanting to peel over spine generally. A little foxing with, in a few signatures, a bit more than that.
A good, overall solid, and clean copy of a Bible having multiple points of significance. (36853)

The “Gun Wad” Bible — The First Bible Printed
from
Type Cast in America
Bible. German. 1776. Luther. Biblia, das ist: Die ganze Göttliche heilige Schrift Alten und Neuen Testaments. Germantown: Gecruckt und zu finden bey Christoph Saur, 1776. 4to. 2 pts. in 1 vol. [2] ff., 992 pp,; 277, [1] pp., [1] f.
$4500.00
Click the images for enlargements.
Popularly known as the “Gun Wad” Bible, this is the third edition of the first American Bible in a European language and it precedes the first American Bible in English by six years. It is known as the “Gun Wad” Bible from Isaiah Thomas's recounting of the sale of Saur's estate in 1778, wherein he says that during the Battle of Germantown the purchaser of the unbound sheets of the 1776 Bible “sold a part of [them] to be used as covers for cartridges, proper paper for the purpose being at that time not to be obtained” in the dislocations of the Revolution — well, maybe.
What is not open to question is the fact that this is the first Bible printed from type cast in America. There are several variants of the edition: In this copy the main title-page is printed in black only and on the New Testament title-page the place of printing is given as “Germantown.”
Provenance: On a front blank, “Joseph Price junr his Bible”; on front pastedown, “Abraham Price was born the 22. Day of June 1770.”
Evans 14663; Hildeburn, The Issues of the Press in Pennsylvania, 1685–1784, 3336; Arndt & Eck, German Language Printing in the U.S., 475; O'Callaghan, p. 29; Rumball-Petre 162; Thomas, History of Printing in America, pp. 411–13. Contemporary calf, very plain in style with minimal tooling and no spine label ever; rebacked and old spine reattached. One leather and metal clasp remaining. Hinges (inside) strengthened and free endpapers reattached. The usual foxing, staining, and browning only; perhaps somewhat less than usual — a clean, untattered copy. Now housed in a quarter brown leather folding slipcase. (27227)

Didot Printed — Petit Bound — BEAUTIFUL Biblical Antiquarianism
Bible. Latin (Old Latin). Vulgate. 1785. Bibliorum sacrorum vulgatae versionis editio. Parisiis: Excudabat Fr. Amb. Didot natut maj., 1785. 8vo in 4s (19 cm, 7.5"). 8 vols. I: xvi, 501, [1] pp. II: [2] ff., 450 pp. III: [2] ff., 393, [1] pp. IV: [2] ff., 428 pp. V: [2] ff., 400 pp. VI: [2] ff., 444 pp. VII: [2] ff., 407, [1] pp. VIII: [2] ff., 373, [1] pp.
$2500.00
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Produced here in fine French bibliophilic style is “the most extensive collection of
Old Latin versions, which exist only in fragments, compiled from manuscripts and the writings of the Fathers” by Pierre Sabbathier and continued after his death under the care of Vincent de La Rue (Darlow & Moule). This edition, following the first (Rheims, 1739–49) was issued In the Didot series Collection des auteurs classiques, françois et latins.
Binding: Full red crushed morocco, gilt spine and boards; gilt rule on board edges; gilt rolls on turn-ins; marbled endpapers. All edges gilt.
Bindings signed Petit Succs. de Simier.
Provenance: Bookplates of Casimir L. Stralem, Clarence E. Clark, and Brian Douglas Stilwell.
WorldCat locates only six U.S. libraries reporting ownership of
all eight volumes as present here (NYPL, Cornell, Seton Hall, Holy Cross College, New York Historical Society, UC-Berkeley Law) and two libraries reporting ownership of incomplete sets (Harvard Divinity [vols. 1, 2 only], University of Dayton [vol. 3 only]).
Darlow & Moule, III, 6263; Jammes, Les Didot, 25. Bound as above, some joints (outside) showing cracking but all intact. All volumes housed in light marbled-paper open-back cases, some with tape repairs.
Very good. (40318)

I. THOMAS'
ILLUSTRATED TALL FOLIO TESTAMENT of 1791
Bible. New Testament. English. 1791. Authorized (i.e., “King James Version”). The New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Translated out of the original Greek, and with the former translations diligently compared and revised, by the special command of King James I, of England. United States of America, [i.e., Worcester, Mass.]: Pr. at the press in Worcester, Massachusetts, by Isaiah Thomas, 1791. Folio extra (400 mm; 16"). New Testament ONLY. [1] f., pp. [789]–1012; 19 plts.
$3250.00
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Present here is the extracted New Testament from
the first folio Bible printed in America, from the press of the printer whom Ben Franklin called the “Baskerville of America.” Being also only the fourth complete Protestant Bible in English printed in the former British colonies, its text is the standard King James version, printed in double-column format in roman type; and Thomas's production is famous for its typography, its achievement in size (the pages are 15.5" tall), and especially its illustrations.
The plates (19 of them) were engraved by four of America's greatest artisans: J. Norman, Alexander Doolittle, Joseph H. Seymour, and Samuel Hill.
“An alphabetical table of proper names” was planned but not printed, as indicated by the catchword on the final page; the table does appear in the quarto edition Thomas printed the same year. This volume does contain, at its end, the whole Bible's “Index to the Holy Bible” and its several “tables” of Weights, Measures, and Coins; Time; Offices and Conditions of Men; and Kindred and Affinity.
Hills 29; O'Callaghan 38; Herbert 1353; Rumball-Petre, Rare Bibles, 171; Evans 23186 Wright, Early Bibles of America, pp. 74–88. 18th-century mottled calf, nicely rebacked with edges of boards renewed and text block resewn. Old waterstaining from light to severe throughout, extending across text and image areas of plates with very variable impact; age-toning, occasional staining, and off-setting from plates in only the usual degrees. Lower margins display some notable chips and purposeful paper tear-aways, and a good many closed tears; only the latter reach sometimes into text (without loss). Several plates have had closed tears neatly repaired from the rear; the plate of Mary Magdalen and the final leaf of the last Table show OLD replacement of paper where original paper was torn away from blank areas; the copy retains the old dog-earings and page-creasings of long use, and bears pencillings on its final leaf.
A copy that has seen much happen to it, over its more than 200 years of existence; still, a sturdy, interesting, and imposing copy of this impressive early American New Testament. (41520)

“It Is Hoped, the
Psalms Will Be Freed From All Objections”
Bible. O.T. Psalms. English. Episcopal Church. 1795. The psalter or Psalms of David, pointed as they are to be sung or said in churches. With the order for morning and evening prayer daily throughout the year. New-London [Conn.]: Printed by Thomas C. Green, on the Parade, 1795. 12mo (15.6 cm; 6.125"). [83] ff.
$250.00
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Early American psalter edited by Samuel Seabury (1729–96), the First Bishop of the American Episcopal Church. The text is based on the 1790 Book of Common Prayer created by that newly formed Episcopal Church.
Provenance: Two owners have written “Cushing Cooks Book, Norwich Port” and “Moses Pierce Book” on front endpaper; later in the library of the Pacific School of Religion (properly released).
Evans 28282; Johnson, New London Imprints, 1285; Trumbull, Connecticut, 1278; ESTC W4406. 18th-century calf, rubbed and abraded; front joint (outside) cracking, turn-ins offsetting to first and last few leaves, front free endpaper with corner cut out, text block starting to detach from binding but definitely still comfortable to handle. Ex-library as above: call number label on spine, bookplate on front pastedown, rubber-stamp on front free endpaper and title-page, pencilling on title-page, paper call number label on spine and circulation materials at back. Provenance markings as above, inking on back free endpaper, light age-toning. (36742)
Campbell’s GOSPELS in their
First! American Edition
Bible. N.T. Gospels. English. 1796. Campbell. The four Gospels, translated from the Greek. With preliminary dissertations, and notes critical and explanatory. By George Campbell. Philadelphia: Thomas Dobson, 1796. 4to (27.7 cm, 10.9"). vii, xvi, 488, 196 pp., [8] ff.
$3000.00
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Three American “firsts” here, counting that of our caption! For while being additionally the uncommon
first printing in America of the Gospels in English in any translation other than the King James or the Douai-Rheims version, this is also
the first privately accomplished translation of the Gospels printed in America.
George Campbell (1719–96) was a minister of the Church of Scotland, theologian, and principal of Marischal College. He wrote a number of theological works, including a defense of miracles in response to David Hume, and was noted for originality of argument as well as charity towards his opponents. This translation of the Gospels was first published in England in 1789; the work consists of a preface and preliminary dissertations, the actual translation, and the notes, with the whole being very scholarly, resorting frequently to the Greek in the dissertations and notes.
Provenance: Title-page and contents leaf with early inked inscriptions reading “Jas. Booth.”
ESTC W4383; Evans 30086; Hills, English Bible in America, 56. On Campbell, see: The Dictionary of National Biography. Contemporary treed sheep, rubbed and abraded with leather lost at corners; nicely rebacked with original label laid on. Title-page and contents inscribed as described above; endpapers waterstained, and pages with light spots of foxing. Paper in many sections faintly blue. (11489)

“Pr. by A. Bartram” — Philadelphia, 1799
Bible. N.T. Gospels. English. 1799. Campbell. The four gospels, translated from the Greek. Philadelphia: Pr. by A. Bartram, 1799. 4to. viii, xvi, 488 pp.; 196, [8] pp.
$1450.00
George Campbell (1719–96) was a minister of the Church of Scotland, theologian, and principal of Marischal College. He wrote a number of theological works, including a defense of miracles in response to David Hume, and was noted for originality of argument as well as charity towards his opponents. This translation of the Gospels was first published in England in 1789; the work consists of a preface and preliminary dissertations, the actual translation, and the notes, with the whole being very scholarly, resorting frequently to the Greek in the dissertations and notes.
Campbell's translation of the Gospels were first printed in the U.S. in 1796 and was the first privately accomplished translation of the Gospels printed in America. This is only the second edition printed in America.
ESTC W4382; Evans 35200; Hills, English Bible in America, 71. On Campbell, see: The Dictionary of National Biography. Publisher's brown leather, rebacked, board edges refurbished, original spine-label reused. Old library pressure-stamps and a bit of pencilling, stamped numberwith a (properly deaccessioned). Occasional light foxing and with some marginal waterstains. Overall, a rather nice copy. (23757)

Bible for Beginners
(Bible). Scripture history; or, a brief account of the Old and New Testament. London: Printed for J. Wallis ... by J. Cundee, 1801. Near miniature (9.6 cm, 3.75"). Frontis., 32, 32 pp.
$350.00
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Here for the young audience is a
small, near miniature volume composed of one-page or slightly longer synopses of the various books of the Bible. The volume begins with a fine metal-engraved frontispiece.
The book was also issued in the same year as vol. 6 of Wallis' ten-volume Book-Case of Knowledge.
Provenance: From the children's book collection of Albert A. Howard, small booklabel (“AHA”) at rear.
Searches of NUC and WorldCat find only four U.S. libraries reporting ownership (NN, CtNlC, NNPM, NjP).
Original green paper–covered boards, front with printed paper label; spine slightly sunned and rubbed. Pages clean and fresh. (38808)

German
Bible Printing Moves WEST
Bible. German. 1805. Luther. Biblia, das ist: die ganze Göttliche Heilige Schrift Alten und Neuen Testaments, nach der Deutchen uebersetzung D. Martin Luthers. Reading: Gedruckt und zu finden bey Gottlob Jungmann, 1805. 4to. 2 vols. in 1. [34] ff., 1008 pp., [1] f., 277, [1] pp., [1] f., (family register excised).
$1175.00
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The first edition of the first Bible in German printed outside of Philadelphia; the first printing of the Bible in Reading. The New Testament here has a separate title-page, pagination, and signatures.
Arndt & Eck, German Language Printing in the U.S., 1467; O'Callaghan 78–79; Seidensticker 166; Shaw & Shoemaker 7984. Publisher's plain brown calf with remnants of metal and leather closures, leather abraded; front board expertly strengthened at joint, new front free endpaper. Family register excised. Interior with foxing, toning, and some staining, including to title-page; initial and final leaves with staining and chipping, as with all copies we've seen in libraries and in commerce.
All said, a solid and satisfactory copy of a famous early American Bible. (27430)

The First New Testament in Turkish
Bible. N.T. Turkish. Ali Ufki. 1819. [title-page in Turkish in Arabic characters, transliterated as] Kitab el-ahd el-cedid [i.e., New Testament]. [Paris: British and Foreign Bible Society], 1819. 8vo (22 cm, 8.5"). 487, [1 (blank)] pp.
$2500.00
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Darlow and Moule report that this is “apparently the earliest Arabo-Turkish edition” of the New Testament, and North and Nida corroborate that, having found no earlier printing. “The earliest translation of the scriptures into Osmanli was made in the 17th century [in Constantinople] by Albertus Bobovius (Bobowsky), a Pole by birth. . . . Publicly embracing the Moslem faith, he received the name of Ali Bey. . . . [He] translated the entire Christian Scriptures [in manuscript] into Osmanli [i.e., Ottoman Turkish]. . . . In 1814 the B.F.B.S. obtained the loan of this MS. from the University of Leyden” (Darlow & Moule). Editing began in 1815 and printing in 1817, but the death of the editor, Jean Daniel Kieffer, in April 1817 delayed publication until 1819.
While this Testament is in Turkish, it is printed in Arabic characters. We must also point out that there are copies reported as ending on page 483 — those copies lack the index and are incomplete.
Darlow & Moule 9453; North & Nida, Book of a Thousand Tongues (1972), 1303. 20th-century chocolate brown calf, round spine with raised bands and gilt-stamped black leather title-label. Endpapers and fly-leaves with early pencilled and inked annotations including ownership inscription of M. Wordsworth; preliminary and final leaves foxed with scattered spots internally. Title-page with pencilled English title and (incorrect) date. A very good copy. (39340)

An Ambitious Printing Project by a
Young Ambitious Printer
Bible. German. 1819. Luther. Biblia, das ist: Die ganze Heilige Schrift Alten und Neuen Testaments nach der deutschen Uebersetzung von Doctor Martin Luther. Lancaster, Pa.: Johann Bär, 1819. Folio (39.5 cm, 15.5"). Frontis., [5] ff., 100, 12 pp., [2] ff., 738, 26 pp.; [2 (blank)] ff.; 227, [1], 92 pp. Lacks plate before the N.T.
$425.00
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Johann Bär's 1819 German Luther Bible (in fraktur type, a.k.a., “black letter”) was the first complete Bible printed in “Lancaster, [Penn]” and the
first folio German Bible printed in America: It was an impressive production — large in size, set on good paper, and the type pleasantly laid out and neatly impressed in double-column format. The frontispiece, engraved by J. Henry and showing Moses with the tables of the law, is appealing.
In the preliminaries, the double-column text includes a brief biography of Luther and an essay by the famous Pietist August Herman Franke (1663–1727) advising how to read Scripture. The printer was only 19 years old when he undertook this massive project and despite the numerous subscribers listed on five preliminary pages in four-cloumn format, he was nearly bankrupted by the enterprise.
In the upper outer corner of the front pastedown is the large printed binder's label of “Henrich Miller, buchbinder, in der Ost – Dranien Strasse, gegeneuber der Lancaster.”
O'Callaghan 146; Shaw & Shoemaker 47206; Arndt & Eck, German Language Printing in the U.S., 2363. Contemporary calf over wood boards, evidence of metal and leather clasp closures; leather perished, joints (outside) open, front board much loosened but holding tenuously and rear board more securely attached. Foxing and brown staining, as usual. Lacks the plate opposite the New Testament title-page. A good copy only yet still
a touching “story” and a touchstone American Bible. (35752)

Early ABS Spanish New Testament — A Controversial Translation
Bible. N.T. Spanish. 1823. Scio de S. Miguel. El Nuevo Testamento de nuestro señor Jesu Cristo, traducido de la Biblia Vulgata Latina. Nueva York: Estereotipa por Elihu White a costa de la Sociedad Americana de la Biblia, 1823. 12mo (18 cm, 7"). 376 pp.
$600.00
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This is an early reprint (the 7th edition, the 5th through 9th editions all appearing in 1823) of the 1819 edition of the New Testament in Spanish published by the American Bible Society, which was the first printing in Spanish of any portion of the Bible in the New World. To avoid controversy, and to appeal to Catholics, a translation approved for use in the Catholic Church was employed. This resulted in some criticism from the ABS's Protestant base, but proved a successful strategy to
get the Scriptures into the hands of Spanish speakers in the newly independent nations south of the U.S.
Darlow & Moule 8495; Shoemaker 11841; not in O'Callaghan; not in O'Callaghan, Supplement,. Contemporary sheep, spine with gilt rules and tiny remnant of black leather title label; some rubbing and abrasions, spine leather with fine cracks. Waterstaining, sometimes nearly invisible, other times noticeable; scattered foxing and browning throughout.
A solid, sound copy of a text that was a bit of a landmark for the ABS. (35158)

Embossed Architectural Binding — EXCELLENT Condition
Bible. English. Authorized (i.e., “King James Version”). 1831. The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments: Translated out of the original tongues: and with the former translations diligently compared and revised, by His Majesty's special command. Oxford: Pr. at the University Press by Samuel
Collingwood & Co., 1831. 24mo. [528] ff.
$1150.00
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A lovely gift Bible, presented in the 19th century to one James Henry Newman by five members of his immediate family.
Binding: Contemporary embossed rich cordovan-colored morocco cathedral binding featuring inter alii the Holy Ghost (in Pentacostal dove–form), the Agnus Dei, and stained/leaded glass “windows” both pointed and rosette. Spine additionally with gilt-stamped title; turn-ins with blind-roll design. All edges brightly gilt.
Not in Herbert. Binding as above, in beautiful condition. First front fly-leaf with early inked familial gift inscription (including an explanation of one brother's having opted out of the group present!); second front fly-leaf with inked dedicatory poem. (22266)

NOAH WEBSTER Revises the Language of the BIBLE
for Americans
Bible. English. Webster. 1833. The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, in the common version, with amendments of the language by Noah Webster. New Haven: Durrie & Peck; Sold by Hezekiah Howe & Co., and by N. & J. White, 1833. 8vo (23 cm; 9"). xvi, 907 pp.
$8000.00
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First edition of the Bible in English (Authorized Version) tailored for American readers by Noah Webster (1758–1843). “His purpose was to remove obsolete words and those offensive to delicacy” (Rumball-Petre), Webster himself further stipulating, “To avoid giving offense to any denomination of christian [sic], I have not knowingly made any alteration to the passages of the present version, on which the different denominations rely for the support of their peculiar tenets” (Preface, p. iv). Webster further explains that the purpose of his revisions is to make the language clearer and purer so as to not “divert the mind from the matter to the language of the scriptures, and thus, in a degree, frustrate the purpose of giving instruction” (Preface, p. xvi).
Webster considered his work on the revision of the Bible more important than that on the dictionary and was sorely disappointed at the Bible's poor reception among all levels of readers.
Provenance: 19th-century ownership signatures of Luther P. Hubbard (undated) and R.T. Hall (1894); after ca. 1954 in The Howell Bible Collection, Pacific School of Religion (properly released).
Darlow & Moule 1793; Hills 826; Rumball-Petre 197. Publisher's sheep, spine dry and tending to flake; front board once detached and resecured with a cloth tape repair at the hinge (inside). Foxing as usual. Priced to encourage better repair to its binding, this is a complete, sound copy. (33830)

A Trio from the Old Testament — Bengali
Calcutta Baptist Mission Press
Bible. O.T. Job. Bengali. Yates. 1843. The preceptive and devotional books of the Old Testament comprehending Job, the Psalms of David and the writings of Solomon, in Bengálí. Calcutta: Printed at the Baptist Mission Press, 1843. Sm. 4to (25.5 cm; 10.125"). [4], 475–608 pp.
$350.00
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The title-page tells us this was translated “by the Calcutta Baptist missionaries with native assistants” and that it was translated from the Hebrew. The lead translator was William Yates (1792–1845), a Baptist missionary who was first stationed at Serampore where he studied under William Carey and afterwards resided and worked at Calcutta.
Titled in English, the text is in Bengali characters in a double-column format.
Binding: Brown ribbon–embossed cloth, printed paper spine label, all edges speckled red. Bookcloth is Krupp style At2, which
suggests the cloth was exported to India in addition to its use in England and America.
Searches of NUC, WorldCat, and COPAC locate only one copy in the U.S.. one in Canada, and two in Britain.
Not in Darlow & Moule; nor North & Nida, Book of a Thousand Tongues (1972); on binding cloth, see: Krupp, Bookcloth in England and America, 1823–50, p. 50. Bound as above; cloth lightly discolored in a mottled fashion, spine chipped with small loss of cloth and printed label rubbed, one mark on back cover. Gentle age-toning with light foxing on endpapers. (36118)

The Four Gospels & Acts of the Apostles — in Bengali
Bible. Gospels. Bengali. Yates. 1845. [five lines in Bengali, then] The four Gospels, with the Acts of the Apostles, in Bengali. Calcutta: Pr. at the Baptist Mission Press ... for the Bible Translation Society, 1845. 8vo (19.7 cm; 7.75"). [2], 282 pp.
$250.00
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The Yates translation, probably with the assistance of John Wenger and native converts, here in the seventh edition of 3000 copies. This appeared just as Yates was revising his translation to conform to the standards of the 1844 O.T. Yates (1792–1845) was a Baptist missionary who was first stationed at Serampore where he studied under William Carey; afterwards he resided and worked at Calcutta.
Provenance: Bookplate of the Baptist Missionary Society Mission House Library on front pastedown.
Not in Darlow & Moule; not list in North & Nida, Book of a Thousand Tongues (1972). Publisher's textured olive cloth with paper spine label; spine ever so lightly faded, paper label (remarkably) intact. Marked as above, light pencilling on endpapers.
A very nice copy with a very good provenance. (36117)

Leeser's Hebrew Bible
Bible. O.T. Hebrew. 1856. [three words in Hebrew, romanized as] Torah, Nevi'im u-Khetuvim, [then] seu Biblia Hebraica secundum editiones Joh. Athiae, Joannis Leusden, Jo. Simonis aliorumque, imprimis Everardi van der Hooght, ... Henrici Opitii et Wolfii Heidenheim, cum additionibus clavique Masoretica et rabbinica Augusti Hahn.
Philadelphiae: sumptibus Joannis W. Moore ... typis L. Johnson et Soc. Philadelphiae, 1856. 8vo (22 cm; 8.5"). xx, [2], 1416 pp.
[SOLD]
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The first Hebrew Bible printed in America edited by an American Jewish scholar here in its fourth edition; the first had appeared in 1848. This landmark of American Jewish scholarship is from the pen of Isaac Leeser (1806–68), a Prussian-born rabbi and educator who established the first rabbinical seminary in the United States (Maimonides College) and also founded The Occident, the first American Hebrew periodical. Leeser was aided by Joseph Jaquett (1794–1869), a Philadelphia-based Episcopalian minister.
Leeser took as his basic text the Tauchnitz “Editio stereotypa” of 1831, which enjoyed the cumulative scholarship of Johannes Leusden (1624–99), Johann Simonis (1698–1768), Everardus van der Hooght (1642?–1716), and August Hahn (1792–1863). This text is also stereotyped and is printed with the points (i.e., vocalized).
Beyond scope of Singer, Judaica Americana; too late for Rosenbach, Jewish. Recent black cloth with wine-red gilt spine label. Light age-toning only, virtually unfoxed and very clean; with occasionally a dog-ear or light crease.
A decidedly worthwhile copy, neat and solid. (41473)

Civil War–Era Bible
Bible. English. 1865. Authorized (i.e., “King James Version”). The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, translated out of the original tongues; and with the former translations diligently compared and revised. New York: American Bible Society, 1865. Tall 12mo (18 cm; 7"). 765 pp.
$250.00
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“57th edition,” according to the verso of the title-page; multiple issues of the King James version were released by the American Bible Society in 1865. The present, attractively bound example of the Society's “Nonpareil, 12mo” edition includes a separate title-page for the New Testament and four family record pages (unused, in this case).
Binding: Brown blind-embossed calf with ornate strapwork designs surrounding a central cartouche, “blank” areas textured with a wavy pattern like moiré silk; spine with blind rules “forming” spine compartments.
Evidence of readership: A few passages marked with pencilled X'es and a few pages turned in for ready finding (e.g., the 23d psalm; Luke 7, a chapter of miracles; Revelation's description of heaven). Two slips laid into Hebrews citing verses with names following — suggested reading from or for those people? Prayer memos?
Not in Hills. Binding as above, a little rubbed. Blind pressure-stamp of the York County Bible Society and private ownership signature on front free endpaper. Age-toning and some foxing, brown stain in lower margin of last few leaves (i.e., “Contents”).
A rather nice copy made particularly interesting by its signs of use. (34165)

Marginalia to
the Max, & Other Notes
Bible. O.T. Psalms. Hebrew. 1880. [two lines in Hebrew, then] Liber psalmorum. Textum masoreticum acuratissime expressit ... notis criticis confirmavit S. Baer. Praefatus est edendi operis adjutor Franciscus Delitzsch. Lipsiae: Ex officina Bernhardi Tauchnitz, 1880. 8vo (22.4 cm, 8.8"). [1] f., 82 pp.; manuscript notes bound in.
$1000.00
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This “textum masoreticum” book of psalms, i.e., the traditional Hebrew text, was edited by masoretic scholar Seligman Baer (1825–97) and theologian Franz Delitzsch (1813–90) as part of their Masoretic Bible series, published by Tauchnitz between 1869 and 1895. A truly
unique copy, this particular volume is thickly interleaved with variously sized sheets and tabs containing the fastidious manuscript notes of published author
Walter Robert Betteridge, D.D. (1863–1916), a notable faculty member in the Old Testament Department of the Rochester Theological Seminary who swathed page after page in minute inked marginalia, and added yet more bulk with clippings from related texts — annotated, of course.Among the doctor's publications was an article on “The Accuracy of the Authorized Version of the Old Testament” (1911), including the Hebrew psalms.
Provenance: Donated by Mrs. Betteridge to the seminary library, with institutional bookplate noting this on rear pastedown.
Recent black moiré silk, spine with gilt-stamped leather title-label. Ex-library with bookplate on rear pastedown as above, pressure-stamp on title-page, call number in lower margin of second leaf; paper brittle, dust- or sometimes soot-soiled(?) at edges, and prone to chipping. Replete with scholia, this is
a stunning testament to one scholar's study of the O.T. (31077)

Language Closely Related to Bengali — Printed at a Mission Press
In Oriya Characters
Bible. N.T. Matthew. Oriya. The Gospel by Matthew in Oriya. Cuttack: Pr. at the Mission Press, for the Crissa Baptist Mission, 1888. 32mo (12 cm, 4.75"). 128 pp.
[SOLD]
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Oriya is an Indo-Aryan language “closely allied to Bengali, . . . spoken by . . . people in Orisssa, in the eastern part of the Central Provinces, in the northern part of the Madras
Presidency, and in the intervening native states” (i.e., in Bihar and Western Bengal). The Oriya character used to print “is allied to the Devanagari character” (Darlow & Moule).
The first portion of the Bible printed in the Oriya language was the N.T. in 1809. This printing of the text of Matthew is in Oriya script while the title is printed on the front wrapper in English and Oriya.
WorldCat lists only three earlier printings (1840, 1865, 1870), each with only one library reporting ownership (variously Cambridge, British Library, National Library of Chile). Clearly, however, there were many others that have either disappeared or are just not reported to WorldCat.
No library reports owning this edition.
Darlow & Moule 7160 (for the 1870 printing); North & Nida, Book of a Thousand Tongues (1972), 1011. Stiff buff wrappers with cloth shelfback; some creasing/dog-earing and light soiling. Else, very nice. (40967)

Arabic Bible Printed at Beirut
(Its Translator was a Rather Amazing Person)
Bible. Arabic. Van Dyck. 1913. [four lines in Arabic romanized as] al-Kitāb al-Muqaddas, ay Kutub al-ʻAhd al-Qadīm wa-al-Ahd al-Jadīd. Wa-qad turjima min al-lughāt al-aṣlīyah, wa-hiya al-lughah al-Ibrānīyah wa-al-lughah al-Kaldānīyah wa-al-lughah al-Yunānīyah. [in Arabic: Beirut : The American Printing Press, 1913]. 8vo (18.5 cm, 7.5"), 920, 295 pp.
$225.00
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The Van Dyck translation of the Bible into Arabic first appeared in 1865 and remained the standard version used by Arabs for a century. This edition from the American Printing Press is
an all-Arabic production, with the only English appearing in it being a small-print line, “Bible, Third Font, 282" on the title-page (at “rear”).
Cornelius Van Alen Van Dyck (1818–95) was born at Kinderhook, NY, and educated at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, receiving his M.D. in 1839. The following year the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions sent him to Lebanon as a medical missionary for the Dutch Reformed Church, and he remained in the Middle East for the rest of his life with only an occasional trip to the U.S.
Van Dyck became fluent in Arabic, wrote extensively in that language, and taught medicine and other subjects: “[He was] professor of pathology and internal medicine in the medical school of the newly founded Syrian Protestant College, which later became the American University of Beirut. He also taught astronomy in its literary section, directed its observatory and meteorological station as well as the mission press, and edited its weekly journal al-Nashran. He wrote Arabic textbooks on chemistry, internal medicine, physical diagnosis, and astronomy, publishing some of them at his own expense” (Wikipedia).
WorldCat records at least three editions of the Arabic Bible from the American Printing Press in 1913, each with a different pagination.
Publisher's brown cloth, spine stamped in gilt with title in Arabic and with blind stamping to covers and spine; some chipping to cloth around spine and at edges. Printed on very thin paper, occasionally
showing a short tear or a crease but clean and untattered. A very good copy. (41439)
“And as Jesus Passed by, He Sawe a Man Which Was Blind from His Birth”
The Version with TWO ORIGINAL Leaves Associated
Bible. English. Authorized (i.e., “King James”). 1611 (2008). The Holy Bible, conteyning the Old Testament and the New, newly translated out of the original tongues & with the former translations diligently compared and reuised. Litchfield Park, AZ: Bible Museum, 2008. Folio. Unpaginated.
$1975.00
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A 400th anniversary edition of the King James Bible, being an accurate, complete, full-size facsimile of the “Great He” Bible. This copy is one of 1000 designated “The Subscriber's” version with
two original leaves from the 1611 printing, one from the Old Testament (leaf Fff2, Psalms 88:6 through 90:5) and one from the New (leaf K3, John 8:39 through 9:41). Both leaves are in excellent condition.
(This book is very large and extremely heavy and will require considerable extra shipping charges.)
Bound in full brown leather and in an open-back slipcase. As new. (35166)
BIBLES
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very extensive, varied “shelf”: click here.


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