Bible, Italian, translated by Diodati, Geneva, 1607, later calf

Bible. Italian

La Bibbia. Cioè, i libri del Vecchio e del Nuovo Testamento. Nuovamente traslatati in lingua italiana, da Giovanni Diodati. [Geneva: Jean de Tournes], 1607

4to (233 x 161mm.), woodcut device on title-page, woodcut initials and headpieces, with blank leaf zZ2, without final blank, later English panelled calf, red morocco lettering-piece on spine, title-page slightly soiled and repaired at foot, table slightly defective at foot, A1 repaired at foot, A3-4 slightly stained, F1 and F4 frayed with loss, P1-2, v1 and 3E3 torn with slight loss of text, upper corner of b2 torn away, slight loss at foot of mm4, ss1, BB1 and KK1_4 frayed at foredge, a few small marginal wormholes at start of New Testament, headlines cropped; sold not subject to return

The first Protestant Bible in Italian; the translator, Giovanni Diodati, succeeded Theodore de Bèze as professor of theology in Geneva. Diodati's family were from Lucca but moved to Geneva to avoid religious persecution. Diodati worked from the Greek and Hebrew texts for his translation, though for the most part it follows the Vulgate.

LITERATURE:

Cartier, De Tournes 731 (commenting on the poor quality of the paper); USTC 6700717

PROVENANCE:

inscription on title-page dated 1731