1608 Restored Geneva Breeches Holy Bible Rare Vintage Antique Robert Barker

As regardsrestoration, leather starts failing after 100 years depending on usage. Anylarge Bible exceeding this age almost invariably will need the front and backcovers reattached to the body of the Bible using new leather. In this case allnew archival leather has been used in its entirety for the rebind. As such, because it has all new leather, it should be good for another 200 years.

On display is a uniqueexample of a 1608 Geneva Bible printed by the deputies of Robert Barker printerto the Kings most excellent majestie. It contains the Old and NewTestament as well as the Apocrypha. The cover is a light Brown. Bothboards and spine are firmly attatched and the book is tight and put togethervery well.

The truly rare part of this Bible is the age. Printed just 48 yearsafter the very first complete English version of the first Geneva Bible. It isone of only a few extremely rare Bibles printed in the early 1600's tohave survived the centuries. It has been professionally rebound insuringthat everything is tight and well put together.

This is an excellent example of a 1608 Bible and ofcourse with virtually anything of this age it is incomplete. While not havingchecked every page, the Old Testament appears to be mostly complete includingthe main Title Page which is shown above. It is missing the following. The Apocrypha ends at second Macabees chapter 15. The following sectionof the New Testament is missing the Title page and a portion of Mathew whichstarts in Chapter 17 and continues to 1st John with the rest throughRevelations missing.

That is followed by a first and second Table which isentitled a brief Table of the interpretation of the proper names. This starts with the letter B and continues through to the Second Table endingWith W H. While it is incomplete, it is extraordinarily rare to find a Bible inthe early 1600's in any condition much less completely rebound. Another unusually rare part to this Bible is the type print itselfwhich is blackletter (gothic) style.

By far, the most unique and rare part of this Bible are the actualboards which are wood. One can still see the hemp rope used in the bindingprotruding through the boards.

One portion of the back board was missing. Inorder to put it back to as close to original as possible, an antiquities woodworker was employed. In the process techniques used in making the originalboards were used including shaving and grinding the edges using a stone.

It measures 9" x 7 1/2 " x 23/4 and weighs in just shy of 4 pounds. This is a Quarto Bible which in1608 would make it a family Bible.

It is of course used and does show theexpected wear and tear associated with its age. In additionas is true in Geneva Bibles there is a massive amount of footnotes helping withinterpretation. This is an incredible opportunity to own a piece of history in the form of aBible printed over 4 centuries ago. It would make an exellent display piecethat could be opened to the Old Testament Title page, or left closed to showthe magnificent leather cover. Lastly, I understand the value of feed back and will reciprocate as soon as youreceive your item and post yours.