LAST FEW REMAINING!!!
CATHOLIC RHEIMS NEW TESTAMENT 1582 FIRST EDITION DISPLAY LEAF
Offered for the consideration of the serious Bible leaf collector is an original display study leaf from the first edition 1582 CATHOLIC RHEMES' NEW TESTAMENT accompanied by a fine art reproduction of its title page and a Certificate of Authenticity.
The Rhemes New Testament is the editio princeps of the Roman Catholic version of the New Testament in English. Translated from the Vulgate by Gregory Martin, under the supervision of William Allen (afterwards Cardinal Allen), and of Richard Bristow.
The translation adheres very closely to the Latin, though it shows traces of careful comparison with the Greek. But its groundwork was practically supplied by the existing English versions, from which Martin did not hesitate to borrow freely. In particular there are many striking resemblances between Martin’s renderings and those in Myles Coverdale’s diglot of 1538. Martin’s own style is often disfigured by latinisms.
This Rheims New Testament exerted a very considerable influence on the version of 1611, transmitting to it not only an extensive vocabulary, but also numerous dis- tinctive phrases and turns of expression. (See J. G. Carleton’s exhaustive analysis, The Part of Rheims in the making of the English Bible, Oxford, 1902.)
Allen was the first President, and Bristow was Moderator (or Prefect of studies) of the English Roman Catholic College, established in 1568 in connection with the University of Douai, and removed temporarily to Rheims, 1578—93. Martin was one of the original scholars of St. John’s College, Oxford, and is described in Wood’s Athence Oaconienses as follows : ‘He was a most excellent linguist, exactly read and vers’d in the Sacred Scriptures, and went beyond all of his time in humane literature, whether in poetry or prose.’ In 1570 he joined the College at Douai, and became Lecturer in Hebrew and Holy Scripture. He died at Rheims, in October, 1582.
The translation was essentially Martin’s work. The keenly controversial matter which accompanies the text is ascribed to Bristow. The Censure and Approbation is signed by four ecclesiastics of Rheims : Petrns Remigins, Hnbertils Morns, Ioannes le Besgile, and Galielmns Balbus. The Preface criticises certain renderings of the English Bibles, mentioning some editions by their dates.
The Annotations are placed at the end of each chapter, the shorter notes etc. in the outside margins, the references in the inside margins. The text is in paragraphs, with the verse-numbers on the inner side. Contents precede each chapter, and Arguments appear before most of the books. After St. John’s Gospel is The scmme, and the order of the Evangelabal historic . . . (pp. 281 to 285): and after Acts The scmme of the Actes of the Apostles . . . (pp. 374 to 376). The list of words in the Eaxplication at the end of the volume includes many which are now established in familiar use; e.g., acquisition, advent, calumniate, character, evangelize, resuscitate, victims. No illustrations; but many vignettes, initial letters, etc· Darlow & Moule 1903
When King James I of England came to the thrown in 1604 he learned quickly that England was divided into three ecclesiastical factions each with a different translation of the Bible.
(1) The Roman Catholics, small but dangerous, had suffered from the death of Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1587 and the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. But their influence was almost totally wiped out by the discovery and resultant failure of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. This was an attempt by notable Roman Catholics to blow up the House of Lords, destroying both king and government so that it could be replaced by Catholic rulers. Guy Fawkes Day in England still commemorates this plot. The 1st English Catholic New Testament was printed in 1582 and the Old Testament in 1609/10.
(2) The Puritans, aggressive and growing in influence, disliked the prayer book and the episcopacy of the Anglican church, and practiced greater liberty in worship and church government. Too, they wanted to break the despotic power of the king and place government in the hands of the people. Their translation of preference was the Genva Bible, 1st printed in 1560.
(3) The Anglican Church party, led by Richard Bancroft, Archbishop of Canterbury, and loyal to the king, stood for ideals which appealed to the new monarch. The Bible of authority for the established church was the Bishops’ Bible, 1st printed 1568.
Using the Bishops’ Bible as their starting point the translators of the King James' Bible referenced Tyndale’s New Testament, the Geneva Bible and the Catholic Rheims New Testament when they were carrying out their work.
Now you can own an original SAME TEXT leaf from TWO of these foundational Bibles that underpins the 1611 KJV text.
CATHOLIC RHEIMS NEW TESTAMENT 1582 FIRST EDITION DISPLAY LEAF
THE OFFER
Only the most avid and wealthy Bible collectors ever have the opportunity to make comparisons between the original printed texts. Additionally this offer includes a further original same text leaf from a 16th century Geneva Bible. Here is an exceptional opportunity to make a word-for-word comparison of two of the earliest English foundational translations that underpin the 1611 King James' Bible. With this study collection it is now possible for the serious Bible leaf collector to minutely compare the orthography, punctuation and grammar of the same common text. Investigate the composition of the ink, watermarks and the rag content of the paper. Learn about the printers and the varied typography used in production. Compare the marginal notes and printed annotations. Examine in detail the blemishes of use through the ravages of time. This unique comparative study collection gives the novice the opportunity to scrutinize in detail the evolution of the text of their very own personal modern printed Bible. Become the Bible scholar on a particular passage of scripture as you make a word-for-word comparison. Then publish your results online.
BUT WAIT!! THERE IS MORE!!! We will also include in this offer an original leaf from an early 17th century King James' Bible for a final comparative analysis with the other two leaves.
BUT WAIT!! THERE IS EVEN MORE!!! Because of our commitment to putting these unique fragments of history into the hands of Bible believers, who will not only cherish and display these original documents of their Christian heritage but will also share their love for Jesus Christ, that we are going to help the successful collector who acquires this offer to pay for it. That’s right! We are going to give to the winner, at no additional cost, FIVE MORE LEAVES from a quarto (personal size Bible) King James’ Bible printed between 1614 and 1640. That’s EIGHT original early Bible leaves in this one offer. Of course we will provide a reproduction title page and a Certificate of Authenticity for each original leaf. Whoever is blessed to own this study collection will be privileged to share it with family and friends by introducing them to the world of Bible leaf collecting. Give them the opportunity to acquire their very own piece of original Biblical history by either selling them one of the KJV quarto Bible leaves or simply giving them away as witnesses to their faith.
Contents Offer
- An original leaf from the 1582 first edition Catholic New Testament (H177) with a certificate of authenticity. The special price of this offer refelects our choice of the text leaf. THE ABOVE PICTURED TEXT LEAF IS FOR DISPLAY PURPOSE ONLY.
- A fine art reproduction of the 1582 first edition Catholic New Testament (H177) title page
- An original same text study leaf from a 16th century Geneva New Testament with certificate of authenticity and fine art reproduction title page.
- An original same text study leaf from a 17th century Kimg James' New Testament with certificate of authenticity and fine art reproduction title page.
- Five additional King James' Bible leaves dated between 1614 and 1640 with COA and fine art reproduction title pages.
- Reference material from the Herbert (H): HISTORICAL CATALOGUE OF PRINTED EDITIONS OF THE ENGLISH BIBLE 1525-1961 by A.S. Herbert. Herbert Catalogue is the standard reference work for printed English Bibles. Herbert Catalogue
- NOTE: You may contact us to see if your favourite text is available before you order
May we suggest this Biblical Archives offer would make an awesome gift for one’s pastor, teacher or faith mentor. Use these materials as a teaching or evangelism aide with children, church, school or seminary. Mount the leaves on the walls of your home, business or church as a testimony to the saving and sustaining power of the Word of God. Give your children hands-on experience developing critical analytical skills using original ancient documents as part of their Home School curriculum. Create a mini-museum of your very own Biblical Archives.