Bible, Polyglot, edited by Le Jay, Paris, 1629-1645, 10 volumes, contemporary speckled calf

BIBLE. POLYGLOT

Biblia 1. Hebraica. 2. Samaritana. 3. Chaldaica. 4. Graeca. 5. Syriaca. 6. Latina. 7. Arabica, quibus textus originales totius Scripturae Sacrae, quorum pars in editione Complutensi, deinde in Antuerpiensi regiis sumptibus extat... [edited by Guy Michel le Jay]. Paris: Antoine Vitré, 1629-1645

9 volumes in 10 (volume 5 bound in two), imperial folio (506 x 325mm.), title printed in red and black, two engraved frontispieces, woodcut initials, vol.1: engraved maps on A1v and T1v, engraved illustrations on Kk1v and Kk2r; vol.2: engraved map on A1r and Ff1v; vol.5: two engraved maps (one with text on verso), contemporary mottled calf, spines gilt in compartments, occasional damp-staining, some offsetting, vol.2: Ss1 torn and repaired, last leaf slightly damaged; vol.3: last two leaves creased; vol.5: llll1 torn and repaired; vol.9: X3 torn and repaired, bindings worn, volume 2 rebacked retaining most of original spine; sold not subject to return

A COMPLETE SET OF THE PARIS OR LE JAY POLYGLOT BIBLE. "This huge Bible, intended to be an improved or enlarged edition of the Antwerp Polyglot, apparently originated with Cardinal du Perron. As early as 1615, according to a contemporary letter of J.A. de Thou (Thuanus), the Cardinal had begun preparations, which were cut short by his death in 1617. Some years later the Paris advocate, Guy Michel le Jay, took up the project, and, by an immense expenditure of money and labour, carried it at length to a successful issue" (Darlow & Moule, p.20). However it was not a commercial success and Le Jay lost a vast sum of money.

A project of this magnitude was likely to be beset with problems, and indeed this was, hence the lengthy gap between the publication of the first and last volumes. The scholars employed, while knowledgeable, were not quick workers and argued amongst themselves and with the printer. However, this bible included for the first time the Samaritan-Hebrew Pentateuch and the Samaritan-Aramaic targum, as well as a Syriac Old Testament.

LITERATURE:

Darlow & Moule 1442

PROVENANCE:

Pierre Quétif (a Paris notary), presentation lettering at foot of each spine "Dono Domini Petri Quetif et liberorum" (one of his children, Jacques, became a Dominican at Saint-Honoré in 1635); Dominicans of Saint-Honoré, Paris, early inscription on first title-page and "Jacobins R.S. Honorae", ink stamp on all title-pages (the Couvent des Jacobins was dissolved in 1790); W. Halma, later inscription on first title-page; Franke Parker, his note of acquisition dated 11 Nov.(?) 1872 and initialled F.P.; Bequeathed to the Bishopric of Cornwall by the Rev. Franke Parker, M.A., Rector of Luffincott, Devon, 1883, bookplates

The Rev. Franke Parker (1803-1883) was the rector of a small parish in west Devon and an avid book collector from an early age. He bequeathed his substantial library, including several other polyglot bibles, to the Phillpotts Library in Truro.

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