BIBLE (La), Lot n° 16

which is all of the Holy Scripture of the Old and New Testament, that is, the Old and New Covenant. La Rochelle, Corneille Hertman, 1616. 2 parts (out of 3) in one volume in-8, fawn basane, gilt roulette edged with solid and dotted fillets, dishes covered with a repeating decoration, metal clasps, decorated spine, gilt edges (contemporary binding). First edition of the Geneva Bible printed in La Rochelle, opening with a preface by Théodore de Bèze To all true lovers of God's truth. Printed on two columns, in very small characters, the edition is adorned with a title-frontispiece engraved on copper and a few vignettes on wood. Since the Edict of Nantes, the printing and distribution of the reformed books was limited to the strongholds granted to Protestants: La Rochelle, Cognac, Montauban and La Charité-sur-Loire. A precious witness to the art of the reformed book, this copy was certainly bound in a workshop in La Rochelle. Old signature on a guard: Titus Fugge. Copy established at the time without the apocryphal books, which form the second part of the edition, nor the Psalms, often attached to this work. Binding deteriorated with missing caps, corners and clasps, cover not attached to the cardboard, small wormholes. Pale wet spots, small marginal cuts on a few leaves. Delaveau & Hillard, n°459 - Chambers, n°1093.