Geneva Bible

1599

de Beer Eb 1599 B

London: By the Deputies of Christopher Barker

The Bible comes in various shapes and sizes, and its dress can be equally varied. A rather plain brown calf Breeches Bible printed in London in 1599 is contrasted by the heavily pressed and elaborate gilt Douay-Rheims Bible printed in Philadelphia about 1884. The Breeches Bible has faded red leaf edges and gold grape (?) decorations on the spine. The faded blind-tooled wheel and star ornaments are just visible along the edge of the front cover. The National Publishing Company of Philadelphia imported the stereotype plates from England to produce the Haydock Douay-Rheims Bible. Rich in Catholic symbolism, it carries a gold cross and biblical scenes like the Last Supper. The tail-band visible is enormous, as befits this very heavy tome.