July 19, 2011
PRINTED 1658: EXTREMELY RARE MINISCULE “PEARL BIBLE”
PRINTED 1658: A REMARKABLE “PEARL BIBLE” KNOWN FOR ITS MINISCULE TYPE
EXTREMELY RARE IN GOOD CONDITION
THE ONLY BIBLE ISSUED UNDER CROMWELL’S ORDER FOR DISTRIBUTION TO HIS SOLDIERS
The Holy Bible : containing the Old Testament and the New newly translated out of the originall tongues and with the former translations diligently compared and revised by his Majesties speciall command. London : printed by John Field one of His Highness’s printers, 1658. 2 vols in 1 (O.T. and N.T) bound with… [Church of Scotland. General Assembly.] Psalms of David in meeter. Newly translated, and diligently compared with the original text, and former translations : More plain, smooth, and agreeable to the text, then any heretofore. Edinburgh, : Printed by A.A. for James Miller, and are to be sold at his shop, in the Cow-gate, on the east side of the Colledge-Wynd, at the sign of St. John the Divine., 1670. 24 mo., only 10.5 cm x 6.5 cm., COMPLETE. T.p., slighty soiled with handsome London engraving, some minor browning, N.T. title page with old rebacking but no loss. Handsome early binding with “W.B.” initials in gilt, possibly a Scottish binding due to the Edinburgh printed Psalms or possibly a Dutch fish-skin styled binding. Provenance: Allard, Joachim (1838-1917), missionary and cleric, “born in 1838 in St. Joachim de Chateauguay, Quebec. He studied in Montreal and entered St. Sulpice seminary in 1862. He was ordained in 1865, and followed Archbishop Tache into the Northwest. He joined the Oblates in St. Boniface in Manitoba, and studied Cree and Ojibwa. He was the first missionary in Fort Alexander in 1876. ”
This remarkable and beautiful bible, is known as the “Pearl Bible,” from the miniscule type with which it was printed. Most 19th century bibliographers cite it as extremely rare in good condition and the copy for sale here is a handsome and complete example. Rev. Allard who owned the Bible cites Graesse on the flyleaf as stating that “on la trouve rarement intacte.” Lowndes cites the Williams’s and Roxburghe catalogues and reiterates “One of the most correct and beautiful editions of the Bible, seldom found in good preservation. Williams, 199,. in fish-skin, 11. 16».; Roxburghe 17, SI. 17*.” Additionally the Bible received mention in D’ Israeli’s Curiosities of Literature (d’Israeli, Curios. of Lit. Vol. III. p.-388.) It appears that Lowndes overlooked many of the errors found in the text, and others describe the work as a bibliographical curiosity and, in fact, as one of the most incorrect versions, even giving it the appellation of “Bastard’s Field Bible”
It is interesting to note that the Williams catalog calls attention to a “Fish-skin” binding. While there have been fish-skin bindings, this more probably refers to the slightly unusual fish-skin styled grain of the morocco as in the present example. There is some supposition that the edition is in fact a counterfeit one, made in Holland for the English market, but this appears inconclusive. Additionally some references point out without clear proof, that the Pearl Bible was intended for the Commonwealth Army and Navy as a pocket Bible and that it was the only Bible printed under Cromwell’s clear order for such distribution.
For price comparison only, a similar copy in a “Scottish binding,” though listed as imperfect (w.a.f) sold for $325 almost 30 years ago. See: Bible in English – [Bible]. L: John Field, 1658 – Bound in 2 vols. 24mo, – 18th-cent mor Scottish bdg. ;- Sold w.a.f – Christie’s, May 19, 1982, lot 148A, £180 ($325.80), Maggs – Herbert 664
