![BIBLE, English. [The Byble which is all the holy Scripture: in which are contayned the Olde and Newe Testament truly and purely translated into Englysh. Translated by Thomas Matthew. ?Antwerp: M. Crom for London: R. Grafton and E. Whitchruch, 1537].](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2003/NYR/2003_NYR_01318_0010_000(070514).jpg?w=1)
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BIBLE, English. [The Byble which is all the holy Scripture: in which are contayned the Olde and Newe Testament truly and purely translated into Englysh. Translated by Thomas Matthew. ?Antwerp: M. Crom for London: R. Grafton and E. Whitchruch, 1537].
2o (324 x 226 mm). Gothic letter in double columns, New Testament within woodcut border, titles for parts 2 Prophets and 3 Apocrypha within woodcut block borders, title pages and Ballet of Balettes of Salomon printed in red and black, numerous woodcut illustations in text. (Lacks preliminary leaves *6, colophon leaf O8 and blank K10, all supplied in facsimile, numerous leaves with old marginal repairs affecting running titles and shoulder notes, some tears repaired.) Early 20th-century brown morocco tooled in blind and gilt, edges gilt (light rubbing to spine and edges). Provenance: Bishop Goff (bookplate); Howard Ritter (letter from B.J. Stevens and Brown pasted in); Philadelphia Divinity School (bookplate and perforated stamp).
FIRST EDITION of the "Matthew's version" of the Bible. "This version, which welds together the best work of Tindale and Coverdale, is generally considered to be the real primary version of our English Bible. Thomas Matthew is commonly treated as a pseudonym of John Rogers (ca 1500-1555), Tyndale's intimate friend, and the first martyr in the Marian prosecution. But as Rogers only edited what is essentially Tyndale's translation, it seems more probable that Matthew stands for Tyndale's own name, which it was then dangerous to employ. The text in the Pentateuch adheres closely to Tyndale's version, and the New Testament follows his G.H. edition. In the portion from Ezra to the end of the Apocrypha it is substantially Coverdale... Rogers' own share in the work was probably confined to translating the prayer of Manasses... As to the place of printing, nothing definite is known. Conjecture points to Antwerp, perhaps at the press of Matthew Crom... Richard Grafton and Edward Whitchurch, the London printers, published the edition of 1500 copies in England" (Darlow & Moule 17). STC 2066.
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FIRST EDITION of the "Matthew's version" of the Bible. "This version, which welds together the best work of Tindale and Coverdale, is generally considered to be the real primary version of our English Bible. Thomas Matthew is commonly treated as a pseudonym of John Rogers (ca 1500-1555), Tyndale's intimate friend, and the first martyr in the Marian prosecution. But as Rogers only edited what is essentially Tyndale's translation, it seems more probable that Matthew stands for Tyndale's own name, which it was then dangerous to employ. The text in the Pentateuch adheres closely to Tyndale's version, and the New Testament follows his G.H. edition. In the portion from Ezra to the end of the Apocrypha it is substantially Coverdale... Rogers' own share in the work was probably confined to translating the prayer of Manasses... As to the place of printing, nothing definite is known. Conjecture points to Antwerp, perhaps at the press of Matthew Crom... Richard Grafton and Edward Whitchurch, the London printers, published the edition of 1500 copies in England" (Darlow & Moule 17). STC 2066.