Currently out of stock and accepting backorders

We are delighted to offer this extraordinary facsimile of the first English New Testament. In translating the Bible into English, John Wycliffe emerged as a powerful influence for revival and reform. As a result of his work, historians have termed Wycliffe the "Morning Star of the Reformation." Possession of a Wycliffe Bible in the 14th century could lead to accusations of heresy, imprisonment and death. Few copies have survived. The last copy to sell at auction brought an astonishing 1.7 million dollars at the Charles Ryrie Sale in December of 2016. Until this year, no true, quality facsimile of a Wycliffe New Testament has ever been produced. The cost was too great, the project too vast and the process too difficult. As nations around the world prepare to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, it seems appropriate that this exceptional edition has finally been released to the general public. For the first time since the late fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries...the Wycliffe New Testament, the first Bible in English, has been made readily available in its original form.

Bound in fine leather and accented in gold, publication is strictly limited and each volume represents an impressive work of art. Lavishly decorated throughout, it has been printed on a thick, vellum style paper with virtually every page embellished with red, blue or gold. Complete, catchwords, 2 columns, 35 lines, Puzzle initials extend into partial borders and the beginning of each book. 

Dimensions: 12.75" wide x 10.5" high x 8" deep, weighing approximately 25lb [individual volume 7.5 wide x 10 high x 3.2 deep]

Product Pages:
463

Product Paper Type:
Natural White Textured Paper

From 1528 to 1535, Coverdale labored to finish his compilation of the Old Testament, which was then published by Jacobus van Meteren. In the same year, the Coverdale Bible, the first complete printed English Bible, was published. The previous year, Coverdale had published Dulichius’ Vom alten und newen Gott and his own Paraphrase upon the Psalms. In 1535, Coverdale published Goostly Psalmes and Spirituall Songes Drawen out of the Holy Scripture, the first English hymnbook. Many of Coverdale’s translations were also published in 1537 as part of the Matthews Bible. In 1538, Coverdale moved to Paris, where he supervised the printing of the Great Bible, a dual-language Bible in which he compared the Latin Vulgate with his English translation. Coverdale’s English New Testament was published in London and Paris, and he proceeded to translate Cranmer’s Bible in 1540. He returned to England in 1539, but with the execution of his close friend and protector Thomas Cromwell, was compelled to go into exile once again.

From 1540-1547 Coverdale lived at Tubingen, where he earned his doctorate, and worked as a pastor and schoolmaster at Bergzabern. During that time, Coverdale translated several tracts, published an English New Testament, and edited Cranmer’s Bible of 1540. After the death of King Henry VIII, Coverdale returned to England, where he enjoyed much favor under King Edward VI, spending most of his time at Windsor Castle as the King’s chaplain. In 1551, Coverdale became Bishop of Exeter, but after the succession of Queen Mary, best known as “Bloody Mary” in 1553, he was deprived of that position and imprisoned. During his imprisonment, the King of Denmark, who Coverdale had become acquainted with during his time in Germany, pleaded his cause to Queen Mary and arranged for Coverdale’s safe transfer out of England. Coverdale was released and quickly left for Denmark, before moving on to Wesel, and finally back to Bergzabern. After the reign of Queen Mary had ended, Coverdale made his final trip back to England, where he served as rector of St. Magnus’ near London Bridge until 1566. He died shortly thereafter, in 1568.

Dimensions: 10.5" wide x 13.5" high x 4" deep, weighing approximately 15 lb

Product Pages:
1137

Product Paper Type:
Natural White Textured Paper

The Matthew’s Bible was the first complete English translation from the original Hebrew and Greek. Scholars consider this version to be the first “true and legitimate” translation. The actual translation was the combined work of three men – William Tyndale, Miles Coverdale, and John Rogers. They used various sources, in at least five different languages. John Rogers used the pseudonym “Thomas Matthew”, a name used by William Tyndale on occasion, to avoid persecution and prosecution by the authorities who continued to forbid under penalty of death, the printing of the scriptures in the English language. The Matthew's Bible was printed in 1537 in Paris and Antwerp by Sir Jacobus van Metered the uncle of Roger’s wife, Adriana.

The Matthew’s Bible was the work of John Rogers, a close friend and associate of William Tyndale. It was the first complete English translation from the original Hebrew and Greek. William Tyndale translated Genesis through Second Chronicles, as well as the New Testament, working directly from the Hebrew and Greek texts. The remainder of the Old Testament was translated by Miles Coverdale, who worked from the German and Latin sources. Rogers notably merged together Tyndale's translation and Coverdale's translation. The Matthews Bible contained all of Tyndale’s work, with the addition of Coverdale’s second translation. Although John Rogers did not claim skills as a translator, he did slightly revise their work as well as adding title pages, introductory and marginal notes, a calendar, and an almanac.

Dimensions: 11" wide x 13.5" high x 3.75" deep, weighing approximately 15 lb

Product Pages:
1137

Product Paper Type:
Natural White Textured Paper

Currently out of stock and accepting backorders

The Great Bible, printed in 1539, is known as one of the most beautiful Bibles ever printed. At the time of the translation, two versions were already in print -- the Matthews Bible and the Coverdale Bible. Because Coverdale's Bible was not translated from the original texts, and the Matthew's Bible was under great suspicion of its origin as a Tyndale Bible, Thomas Cromwell and Archbishop Thomas Cranmer commissioned Myles Coverdale to complete a whole revision of the Bible. Coverdale began work immediately, using the Matthew's Bible as a base, and revising where needed. By 1539, printing had started in Paris; however, the inquisition in France was on, and the printer was arrested. Rather than burning the printed pages, the French Inquisitor-General sold them as waste paper. Through shrewd management, Thomas Cromwell was able to buy the Bible pages and transport them back to England, where they finished the work. In April of 1539, the first edition of the Great Bible appeared, also known as the "Cromwell Bible," the "Cranmer Bible,' and the "Chained Bible." Thomas Cromwell issued an injunction that a copy be set up in every church, and a reader was appointed so that even the illiterate could learn the Word of God, as they desired. With this action, the Great Bible, funded by King Henry VIII, became the first Bible authorized by the government for public use.

The public placement of the Great Bible stirred the hearts of the people to have a personal copy of the Word of God and sparked a renewed spirit to print the Scriptures for every man. Henry VIII had given authorization for the printing and placing of the Bible and confirmed its proclamation in the churches to Lord Cromwell and Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer.

In a tragic turn of events, Henry betrayed his own counsel and conscience by having Thomas Cromwell executed in 1540. Following the death of Henry VIII and the Ascension of Mary I, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer was tried as a heretic and, like John Rogers who had preceded him, gave his life in the flames.

Product Dimensions: 15" high x 10 ¼" wide x 4" deep

Product Weight: 20 lbs

Currently out of stock and accepting backorders

-- Product listing is for reference only --

This item is being replaced with a cleaner, higher-quality Bishop's Bible text and will be re-released at the end of 2020 or beginning of 2021.

The Bishops Bible was an English translation produced under the authority of the established Church of England, in 1568. It would be substantially revised in 1572. The final printing in 1602 would be assigned to the translators as the preferred text to consider for the authorized 1611.

This large folio is best known for the woodcuts, the illustrations, the massive text and quite legible type. The limited response and questionable reception of the Bishops Bible led to less than 20 editions, the last is 1602.

The Bishops Bible is sometimes referred to as “ Matthew Parkers Bible”, as he was the primary force behind its publication. The title page bears the portrait image of Queen Elizabeth and Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester, at the beginning of the book of Joshua, and of William Cecil, the Baron of Burghley, at the beginning of the Psalms. It included over 143 word cuts and maps and the preface written by Matthew Parker himself in addition to retaining the preface of Cranmer From the 1540 edition of the Great Bible. The Bishops Bible was beautiful, it was exceptionally large, with 124 full-page illustrations of woodblock and artistic fonts.

Product Dimensions:
11 1/2 x 16 3/4 x 5 1/4

Product Weight:
24 lbs

Product Pages:1128

Product Paper Type:
Natural White Textured Paper

The King James Version of 1611, also known as the Authorized Version of the Bible, has been proven throughout history to be the greatest of all English translations. The beautiful English prose contained in the King James Bible has had supreme influence in society, and is widely considered to be the greatest literary masterpiece known to man. When King James the Sixth of Scotland succeeded Queen Elizabeth the First of England after her death, many different translations of the Bible were in existence, including the Bishop’s Bible, the Great Bible, and the Geneva Bible. To settle various religious grievances, King James called the Hampton Court Conference in January of 1604. During the Conference, Dr. John Reynolds, a Puritan leader and Oxford scholar, “moved his Majesty, that there might be a new translation of the Bible, because those which were allowed in the reigns of Henry the Eighth and Edward the Sixth were corrupt and not answerable to the truth of the Original.” King James then replied, “I wish some special pains were taken for an uniform translation, which should be done by the best learned men in both Universities, then reviewed by the Bishops, presented to the Privy Council, lastly ratified by the Royal authority, to be read in the whole Church, and none other.”

The King James translators incorporated many of the helps first introduced in the Geneva Bible, and built upon the strengths of earlier versions such as Tyndale's New Testament, the Matthews Bible, the Great Bible, and the Bishops Bible to produce the greatest of all English translations. Its beautiful prose and simple structures have made it the greatest literary masterpiece of all time, but most importantly, we can be assured that the Word of God has been preserved in the pages of the King James Version.

Dimensions: 12.25" wide x 16.75" high x 6.75" deep, weighing approximately 28lb

Product Pages: 1258

Product Paper Type:
Natural White Textured Paper