POLEMICAL PARALLEL EDITION OF THE RHEIMS NEW TESTAMENT AND THE BISHOPS’ BIBLE, 1617, HANDSOME IN 19TH-CENTURY CALF-GILT

BIBLE. The Text of the New Testament of Jesus Christ… BOUND WITH: A Defense of the Sincere and True Translation of the Holy Scriptures into the English Tongue… London: [by Adam Islip] for Thomas Adams, 1617. Folio (8-1/2 by 13-1/2 inches), late-19th century full polished calf, elaborately gilt-decorated spine and boards, raised bands, later red and green morocco spine labels, beveled edges, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt.

Third editions of Fulke’s parallel edition of the Rheims New Testament and the Bishops’ Bible—“an invaluable assistant to the Protestant divine” (Allibone, 641), intended to show the superiority of the latter to the former, but inadvertently setting the stage for the Rheims Testament’s influence on the King James Bible—and his Defense of the Anglican translation, handsomely bound together in gilt-paneled polished calf.

“The appearance of a Roman Catholic-sponsored translation of the New Testament in 1582 at Rheims kindled a controversy that produced William Fulke’s defense (first edition, 1583) of the Bishops’ Bible [which was first published in 1568; here called ‘The Translation of the Church of England’]. The Rheims New Testament was an accurate translation of the Vulgate, but its very competence served to emphasize the Roman Catholic Church’s reliance on the Vulgate as authoritative against the Reformers’ desire to translate from the Greek text. Fulke’s parallel column edition with marginal notes was designed to highlight differences and defend the Bishops’ Bible. Unfortunately the polemical rhetoric on both sides only fanned the flames of the controversy. Fulke’s work proved quite popular and went through numerous printings” (100 Bible Landmarks 67); indeed, it proved “indirectly responsible for the marked influence which Rheims exerted on the Bible of 1611” (Darlow & Moule 156). Text of the New Testament with elaborately wood-engraved title page; both volumes with decorative woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces. Without initial blank. This edition also issued with John Bill’s imprint; no priority established. Text of the New Testament: STC 2917. Darlow & Moule 278. Herbert 359. Defense: STC 11431. Bookbinder’s small ticket.

Scattered light foxing. Small marginal closed tear to title page at lower edge of frame. Small tear with loss to lower corner of leaf 3H1. Defense with marginal paper restorations to [F4], [V6]-[X8]. Mild rubbing to spine and edges, modest abrasions to rear board. Restoration to spine ends and joints. Gilt on boards bright. A handsome volume and a valuable primary source in the study of the English Bible’s history. Near-fine condition.