Bible, Old Testament, Greek, London, 1653, eighteenth-century black morocco gilt, Philip Traherne's copy

Bible. Old Testament. Greek

Η Παλαια Διαθηκη κατα τους Εβδομηκοντα. Vetus Testamentum Graecum ex versione Septuaginta interpretum. London: Roger Daniel, for sale by John Martin and James Allestrye, 1653

8vo (168 x 108mm.), title-page printed in red and black with hand-coloured printer's device, text in Greek, ruled in red, eighteenth-century black morocco gilt in Restoration style, spine gilt in compartments, gilt edges, without the second part containing the scholia, paper flaw at foot of Ii2, binding slightly rubbed

First edition of the Septuagint to be printed in England, prepared by the Unitarian John Biddle and dedicated to the scholars at Westminster School. Daniel also issued a New Testament in Greek in the same year.

LITERATURE:

Darlow & Moule 4692; ESTC R210989; Wing B2178 (all including the scholia)

PROVENANCE:

Philip Traheron (i.e. Traherne, 1635-1686), a gift from Charles Seward, early inscription on title-page; Robert Vaughan Hughes (1819-1901), of Wyelands (Monmouthshire), bookplate and signature

Traherne obtained a twelfth-century copy of the Greek Gospels while he was the English Chaplain in Smyrna; he presented it to Lambeth Palace Library on his return.