Description
FRAMED COLLECTOR SET: Four (4) Historic Printed Bible Leaves. Guaranteed Genuine Originals.
For the discerning collector: “The Printed Bible: From Europe to America”
Wm. Tyndale New Testament Leaf, 1536/1549. Newe Testament, translated by M. Wil. Tyndall [sic, orig. spelling]. Octavo, 6.25″ x 3.75″. ROMANS 12:17-14:4. References: Herbert 79, Fry 23. Printer unknown but speculation points to Day and Seres, and was likely printed in Antwerp in 1536 but not published until 1549, likely in London. This edition, represented here, has 35 lines per column. Leaves not numbered; paragraph ending flared “Iron” crosses lack the left arm (as in H 13, suggesting a common printer), with copious marginal references, and the marginal stars are 6-pointed. EXCELLENT condition. Facing text as framed, verso: Rom. 13:8-14:4; recto side: 12:17-13:7. Leaf is from Paul’s premier epistle to the Romans, spanning chapters 12-14. Overall, this edition “Strikingly resembles the three octavo editions of 1536” and “generally agrees” with the standard G.H. edition of 1535; see Herbert 15 and 22 for comparisons. With 35 lines per col., this leaf in form and content is like the other three known 1536 octavo NTs, no other NTs having 35 lines per column! Text here is Tyndale’s unedited final revision. Although the text generally agrees with the three known 1536 octavo editions (each is unique though very similar), the Title to this edition is dated 1549 and the publisher is unstated. Very likely, this edition was printed in 1536 after the other three but kept secret until 1549 when it was safe from persecution to publish a Tyndale NT. Accordingly, this leaf is considered a true 4th 1536 Tyndale octavo NT, unedited final revision. Census for the three known 1536 editions is about 15. The census for this unusual edition is unknown, but perhaps 20-30. Regarding the pricing of this leaf: NT leaves are 3-times rarer than OT leaves, and this one is a premium leaf. Extremely Rare. Value: $2000.
Eliot Indian Bible Leaf, 1663. Eliot Algonquian Bible, a/k/a “Eliot Indian Bible,” printed in Cambridge [New England, USA], 1663. FIRST EDITION. Sm quarto, 7.5″ x 5.25″. Printed by S. Green and M. Johnson, Cambridge, MDCLXI [1663]. Leaf text: EZEKIEL 29:5-30:9 (facing text) and 30:10-31:10, verso. Ref: D&M 6737; O’Callahan 1663. See John Wright, Early Bibles in America, 1892. Leaf: SUPERIOR condition. That this is a true first edition is determined by the lack of a summary before each Chapter as well as the unique signature Bbbbba, an exact match in every respect to the Georgetown copy PDF. [Of note: Eliot’s NT was published already in 1661 and was incorporated unaltered in his first whole Bible of 1663. Eliot’s 1680 2nd edition Bible is a complete revision of the first]. The 1663 whole Bible from which this leaf comes, in the [Algonquian Indian] Massachusett language, being translated from a Geneva Bible, is the first published whole Bible in early America, and the first whole Bible ever printed for missionary purposes! The translator, John Eliot, is also known for publishing the Bay Psalm Book of 1640. Of the 1000 or 1500 original printed copies, only 39 are known to remain. Extremely Rare. Value: $2500.
Aitken Bible Leaf, 1782/81. The New Testament / Holy Bible, printed in Philadelphia by R. Aitken, 1781 or 1782/1781. FIRST EDITION. 12mo., 6.1″ x 3.6″. Ref: Herbert 1283; O’Callahan 1781 and 1782. Text: JAMES 2:18b-5:7. FINE+ condition; light smudge. 3:18-5:7 (facing text, verso) and 2:18b-3:17, recto. This leaf could theoretically originate either in a 1781 NT or a 1782 whole Bible — the NT leaves being identical in both. In the 1782 Bible, the OT title is dated 1782 and the NT is dated 1781; first NT ed., 1777. But given the provenance of this leaf (see the accompanying leather volume, “The Bible of the Revolution”), this leaf, being unbound, is highly likely to immediately come from a whole Bible. This is the FIRST English language whole Bible printed in America, with an American imprint. The only Bible ever Authorized by Congress, it is thus called “The Bible of the American Revolution.” Of the 5000 copies printed, a scant 40 or so copies remain. Regarding the pricing of this leaf: NT leaves are 3-times rarer than OT leaves! This one, from James (the brother of Jesus who guided the Jerusalem Church until his death in 62 AD) or his circle, represents the faith of the first Jerusalem Apostles. Accompanying leather booklet and COA. Extremely Rare. Value: $1500.
Geneva Bible Leaf, 1580. The Geneva Bible, printed in London by C. Barker, 1580; a reprint of the 1579 edition. Quarto, 8.5″ x 6.0″; 71 lines per column. Ref: Herbert 165. Text: ACTS 23:16b-25:23. FINE condition overall; light stain at upper corner. Facing text: Acts 23:16b-24:16a; verso: 24:16b-25:23. The Geneva Bible popularized the Quarto format for personal use and dominated the English speaking world until about 1680. Text recounts Paul’s detainment in Jerusalem and his appeal to Caesar. While this leaf is not particularly valuable (it came with the set), it well represents the impact of the Geneva Bible in the historical development of the English Bible as well as being the version that first came to the shores of America. It was the Bible used by Shakespeare, the Pilgrims, and the Puritans, predating the King James Bible by 51 years. When it was first published in 1560, it It was the first English Bible to introduce verse numbers for easier story location. Value: $50.
4 Leaf Set Includes: Four (4) Bibles Leaves, framed, as described and pictured; Leather Booklet titled “The Bible of the Revolution”; General COA and Descriptions for all 4 leaves set in a museum-quality Bifold Portfolio; 4 separate COAs in Archival Booklets.
PROFESSIONALLY FRAMED. 32″ W x 18″ H x 1.2″ D. Archival matting. UV clear glass, one-sided. Antique beige & black double-matting, in a handsome chocolate brown and beaded gold frame, with identifying brass plates. Leaves are accurately and professionally identified on the COAs, per the above descriptions, superseding the implications on the brass plates, with an accompanied Certificate of Authenticity for each and for the set. Value: $400.
GUARANTEE: Historic Bibles & Engravings guarantees that the detailed Descriptions, above, with their Certificates of Authenticity, signed and sealed, are true and accurate representations of the Items described. The Valuations noted are equivalent professional Appraisals for insurance and heirloom purposes, as of October 2025.
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TOTAL VALUE: $6450. PRICE: $5500.
