Bible in English [The Geneva Bible, 1st Edition]

4to (9 x 6 3/4 in.; 229 x 172 mm). Roman type, text in double columns, divided into verses, woodcut vignette on general title-page, repeated for New Testament title-page, 25 woodcut text illustrations; lacking the 5 maps and terminal blank LLl4, leaves ***1–g4, A3, R4, EEe4, FFf1, and SS2–3 defective and repaired with varying degrees of text loss,***1–3, a1–3, and LLl3  cut round and inlaid, a4v backed with subsequent tissue yellowing, a few other marginal repairs including long tear to NT title-page, headlines cropped or shaved throughout, occasional dampstaining. Later calf, gilt royal arms on covers; rebacked, corners restored. Bound with: Thomas Sternhold, John Hopkins, and others. The Whole Booke of Psalmes Collected into English Meetre. London: Printed [by J. Wolfe] for the Assignes of Richard Day, 1588. 4to.  All leaves inlaid, numerous leaves defective, incomplete, lacking all after F5.

Bible: John Kingston (signature on &6v dated 1686) — Mary Cook (early inscription on a2r) — John Cooke (inscription on v3v dated 1717 and Rr3v and 4v dated 1707, and elsewhere). Psalms: Mark Kingston (signature on title-page) — John Kingston (signature on verso of title-page dated 1684) — P. Martin, Abingdon (signature on flyleaf dated 14 May 1903) — Bernard Quaritch (collation/condition note, purchased at Sotheby's London 7 April 1930)

Bible: Formatting the Word of God 10.2; STC 2093; ESTC 101758; Herbert 107; Luborsky & Ingram, English Illustrated Books 2093; PMM 83. Psalms: STC 2475; ESTC S101767

First edition of the "Geneva Bible," the first complete Bible in English printed in roman type with verse divisions. "More scholarly than any previous translation, it was largely the work of William Whittingham (1524?–79), afterwards Dean of Durham, Thomas Sampson (1517?–89) and Anthony Gilby (d. 1585)" (PMM). In contrast to Tyndale's and Coverdale's early versions, the tenor of the Geneva Bible's arguments and explanatory notes was Calvinist rather than Lutheran. In the New Testament the terms "elder" and "congregation" replaced "priest" and "church." The notes to the Apocalypse are stridently anti-Papist, for instance the scarlet woman of Revelation 17:4 is identified as "the Antichrist, that is, the Pope with ye whole bodie of his filthie creatures."

"The community of Marian exiles in Geneva who translated and printed this first edition followed the distinctive features of contemporary French Genevan Bibles—convenient size, roman type, numbered verse divisions, and the inclusion of historical tables, explanatory pictures, plans, and maps ... These visual aids reflect Genevan concern that even the 'simple reader' should understand obscure passages of scripture" (Luborsky & Ingram). Another innovation in the Bible was the introduction of many famous phrases that were retained in the Authorized Version, such as "smite them hip and thigh," and "vanity of vanities."  

Although never formally adopted in England, the Geneva Bible remained the most popular of all versions for three generations, with one hundred and forty editions printed between 1560 and 1644.