Description
RUTH 1:1-4:5 “Intreat Me Not” (1:16) and “He Went Into the Citie” (3:15). The second and the last King James “He” Bible, after the 1611 folio “He” edition/issue. Printed in London by Robert Barker, 1613. First Quarto Black Letter Edition. Overall size: 8.6″ x 6.25″. Reference: Herbert 323, the “He” edition, containing the original error in Ruth 3:15 “he went into the citie” and according to Herbert is a “close reprint” of the 1611 folio “He” first edition, first issue. After 1613, no other “He” editions were printed. Note: There are no other certain determinations of a “He” edition than the Ruth 3:15 citation, since textual and printing indicators vary and are somewhat mixed, despite what some experts may say. The best indicator of a genuine 1613 “He” Bible, therefore, is Ruth 3:15 citing “he” coupled with a uniform block size (less than 200 mm) and uniform pages throughout. Such a bible is represented here, from which these leaves were taken. For scholarly reference, see Herbert’s Historical Catalogue of English Bibles. See also David Norton’s Textual History of the King James Bible.
This important and very rare leaf contains not only the very popular “Intreat me not to leave thee” passage but the definitive Ruth 3:15 passage “he went into the citie” that authenticates this leaf and the bible from which it came (with correct block size) as a genuine 1613 He Bible. The leaf itself is in FINE- condition overall, with a couple of dark smudges at 2:12 and 3:4. COA on premium “gold leaf” paper with signature and gold seal. This leaf sets in a museum quality Bi-fold Portfolio.
