BIBLE, in English - The Bible, London, 1599 [but later], [with:] Psalms of David, in Scots Meter, Edinburgh, 1632. 3 parts in one vol., square 8vo, titles with woodcut borders, contemporary calf (rubbed). Geneva Bible, with "breeches" reading in Genesis.

BIBLE, in English - The Bible, that is, the Holy Scriptures conteined in the Old and New Testament. Translated according to the Ebrew and Greeke, and conferred with the best Translations in divers Languages. With most profitable Annotations upon all hard places, and other things of great importance. London: "Imprinted ... by the Deputies of Christopher Barker," 1599 [but later]. [With:] Psalmes of David, in Scots Meter. After the Forme that they are used to bee sung in the Kirke of Scotland, Edinburgh: Printed by the Heires of Andro Hart, 1632. 3 parts in one volume, square 8vo (224 x 175mm). Additional general title and titles to the New Testament and Psalms within elaborate woodcut borders, illustrations and maps, initials and ornaments, roman type, printed in double column (lacks all before general title and all after final text leaf [i.e. ?endpapers or blanks], general title torn with slight loss to lower woodcut border, final text leaf torn with loss and creased, some mainly marginal spotting, browning and staining). Contemporary calf ruled and decorated in blind, remnants of clasps (heavily rubbed). Provenance: John Arnot (old signatures on front pastedown); Mrs Miller (signature and address dated 1852 on front pastedown). An example of the Geneva Bible, with the "breeches" reading in Genesis III, 7. "This version of the English Bible was made by English Protestants who, in Mary's reign, had taken refuge in Geneva ... More scholarly than any previous translation, it was largely the work of William Whittingham (1524?-79), afterwards Dean of Durham, Thomas Sampson (1517?-89) and Anthony Gilby (d.1585). They may have had some help from other English exiles, including Miles Coverdale ... The Geneva Bible was never officially approved in England, where in 1568 the ecclesiastical authorities produced as a rival to it the so-called Bishop's Bible. But from 1575 onwards it was openly printed in London ... At least one hundred and forty editions were printed between 1560 and 1644 ... It was also adopted in 1579 by the Scots Kirk as its official version. A new feature was the use of roman rather than black letter type; the Geneva Version included prefaces, maps and tables; and for the first time in an English Bible the verses were divided and numbered ... The name 'Breeches Bible', often applied to this version, derives from the rendering of Genesis iii, 7 as 'and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves breeches' instead of the aprons of other versions" (PMM). "[The Geneva Bible] became the textus receptus for the puritan element in England. It was read by Shakespeare, Bunyan and the soldiers of the Civil War, and is thus of cardinal importance for its influence on the English language, literature and thought" (Thomas). cf. Darlow & Moule 77; Herbert 247; PMM 83; Thomas Great Books and Book Collectors pp.104-108.