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Holy Bible; The Booke of Psalmes

Illustrated by: Unidentified artist, English, 16th century
Translator: Laurence Tomson (English, 1539–1608)
Printer: Christopher Barker (English, 16th century)
after 1640
Place of Publication: London, England

Medium/Technique Illustrated book with woodcuts
Dimensions Overall: 23.7 x 19.5 x 6 cm (9 5/16 x 7 11/16 x 2 3/8 in.)
Credit Line Bequest of Maxim Karolik
Accession Number64.944
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsIllustrated books
London: Christopher Barker, 1599 [i.e., Amsterdam: J.F. Stam, after 1640?]

Catalogue Raisonné STC 2178 [Bible] and 2499.5 [Psalmes]
Description(London: Christopher Barker, 1599 [i.e., Amsterdam: J.F. Stam, after 1640?]) Quarto; 505 leaves; nineteenth-century gilt-stamped green morocco.

Maps; vignettes of Biblical scenes; elaborate woodcut title border to New Testament incorporating portraits and arms of evangelists, prophets, and saints.

The Old Testament lacks title page and has no colophon; the New Testament has the imprint of Christopher Barker in 1599. As noted by STC (note before 2174), this imprint is false, and the volume was actually printed by J.F. Stam in Amsterdam, probably after 1640. The Booke of Psalmes bound after the Bible was issued simultaneously. This was one of a group of seven editions, all carrying the (false) imprint of Christopher Barker, 1599 (STC 2174-80; 2499-2499.7).
ProvenanceStansbury family, England, with inscriptions and family genealogy dating from 1670s; most from eighteenth century; graphite inscription on a preliminary leaf "Mr. Amory Codman's Gt. Grandmother's Grandfather's Bible; graphite inscription on loose sheet of paper "Stanbridge Bible My grandfather Henry Codman had this Bible bound & wrote the paper signed "H.C."; pen inscription on another sheet "Stanbridge and Greene Bible"; apparently Martha Codman Karolik; her husband Maxim Karolik, by whom bequeathed to MFA, June 8, 1964.