DESCRIPTION. Four preliminary leaves: [1 f. blank], title, verso blank, To the Christian Reader-1 f. (signed ¶ 3), Of the incomparable treasure...-1 p., list of books-1p. Text: O. T. (1) Genesis-Job, pp. 1 to 469 (really 467), 1 p. blank; (2) Psalms-Malachi, pp. 1 to 316 (not numbered); An Admonition to the Christian Reader: Concerning the ApocryphaBooks . . . ending with the words Ordained at the Synode of Dort in the yeare 1618. Set out and annexed, by the Deputies, to the end of the Dutch Bible newly Translated— 2 ff. N. T., with title, verso blank, The Printer to the Diligent Reader-1 p., The description... (with map)-1 p., text-pp. 1 to 267; tables-13 pp., ending on Mm 4 b. Signatures: ', A-Z® Aa-Qq", A-Z' Aa-Pp1 Qqo, ¶2, ¶2, A-Z' Aa-Mm'; 540 ff. The page-number is given only on the recto of each leaf. The running title Psalmes in the Psalter is printed in italics. The general titlepage bears a cut of the crossing of the Red Sea; the N. T. titlepage has an ornament-- a female head between two cornucopia. Two full-page engravings, copied from those inserted in A. Hart's edition of 1610, occur in Exodus, on G1a and G 2 b. Lea Wilson (p. 111-2) considers that there are two distinct impressions of this edition; and Fry alludes to a variation edition.' But probably these varieties' are merely mixed copies containing a certain number of leaves which correctly belong to the very similar edition of 1644; though perhaps a few sheets, of which the supply ran short, were reprinted before that date. Christianus Ravius of Berlin refers, in the preface of his work Prima tredecim partium Alcorani Arabico-Latini (Amsterdam, 1646, 4°), to the large number of English Bibles printed in Amsterdam: . . . Quod si forte non videatur credibile, sciendum, nullam nationem, ne ipsam quidem Germaniam, ut typographia longé anteriorem, tot editiones Bibliorum annumerare posse, quot sola Anglia: cum unus vir Anglus, hic Amstelodami intra 4. vel 5. annos ad 40000 exemplarium impresserit, ubi ultima editio erat 12500 exemplarium; & hic Amstelodami ultra centum quinquaginta millia exemplarium Bibliorum Anglicanorum sint impressa, præterquam quæ in Anglia ipsa ad duas myriadas exemplarium impressa sunt.' ¶357 × 225 mm. Wants apparently one blank leaf before title. A duplicate of An Admonition . . . is inserted at the end. [F. F.] Another copy. 339 x 217 mm. Fry marked this copy' variation edition,' but it is merely mixed. Where it differs from the preceding it seems to agree with the edition of 1644. The N. T. title is dated 1644. With Speed's Genealogies and Map; and Downame's Concordance (1639). 1640. The Holy Bible . . [F. F.] Text ends on Kkk 8 a. With Genealogies (1638) and Map. With Prayer Book (1639), and Metrical Psalms (1640). Seventeenth-century binding: with central and corner ornaments stamped in gilt. [F. F.] Another copy. 169 x 111 mm. With Genealogies (1638). With Prayer Book (? date), Metrical Psalms (1640), and The Way to True Happinesse. (? date). [F. F.] NOTE ON THE PRICES OF BIBLES IN THE EARLY SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. A scarce tract entitled Scintilla, printed in 1841, which throws a flood of light on the prices of Bibles and the general bookselling trade in the early seventeenth century, is here printed in extenso. Prof. Arber included it in his Transcript of the Registers of the Stationers' Company (vol. iv., 1877, pp. 35–38); but from its bearing on the history of the English Bible it claims a place in this Catalogue. Arber sums up the value of Scintilla as follows: This tract is a remarkable testimony to the never-ending competition in the book trade; to the power of the King's Printers, partly as patentees, and partly as capitalists only; to the vast extent (proportionately to other books) of the production of Bibles, etc., and school books under the earlier Stuarts; and, lastly, to their steady rise in price, despite the much larger editions than formerly, owing in some degree to the increasing wealth of the country, but still more through monopolies and "rigging the market." It will be seen that Scintilla also gives interesting details as to the importation of English Scriptures printed in Holland. The author was a London bookseller named Michael Sparke, a native of Eynsham, near Oxford, who died at Hampstead 29 Dec. 1653. He is remembered chiefly as the publisher of William Prynne's works, including the famous Histriomastix (1633), for the publication of which Sparke was fined £500, and condemned to stand in the pillory. More than once he infringed copyrights, and dared even to attack the Biblemonopoly of Barker. The printing of Bibles and liturgies belonged by patent to Robert Barker, the King's printer and his assignees. In order to defeat this monopoly, Sparke imported large quantities of these books from Holland, and sold them at much cheaper rates than those printed in London. Barker obtained a warrant to search the ports and seize all the foreign printed Bibles he could find. Sparke retaliated by bringing an action for trespass against those who seized the books, and went on importing fresh supplies.' (Cf. D. N. B., art. R. Barker.) For theological reasons, Archbishop Laud actively hindered the introduction of Geneva Bibles printed abroad. See The History of the Troubles and Tryal of William Laud . . . (1695), pp. 349, 350; and W. Prynne's Canterburies Doome (1646), pp. 181, 513, 515–6, and 529; in some of these passages Sparke is mentioned by name. In August, 1645, Parliament prohibited the sale of imported Bibles, until these had been examined, and sanctioned as correct, by the Assembly of Divines. Besides Scintilla, Sparke was responsible for another pamphlet, A Second Beacon, fired by Scintilla . (1652), which is quoted above in connection with the Popish pictures inserted in the Edinburgh Bibles of 1633 and other dates (see No. 367). (For further details, see Michael Sparke, Puritan Bookseller,' by H. R. Plomer, in the Bibliographer, New York, Dec. 1902.) The following is printed verbatim et literatim from the British Museum copy [E. 169 (3)] of the small quarto four-leaved tract. In the margin are added a few explanatory notes. It should be noted that the prices mentioned are in every case for the book 'in quires,' i.e. in sheets-unbound. These prices must be multiplied by five to obtain approximately their equivalent value to-day. [Title, A 1 a.] [A 1 b.] [p. (1), A 2 a.] new Trans Scintilla, or a Light broken into darke Warehouses. With Observations vpon the | Monopolists of Seaven severall Patents, and Two Charters. | Practised and performed, By a Mistery of some Printers, Sleeping Stationers, and Combining Book-sellers. | Anatomised | And layd open in a Breviat, in which is only a touch of their forestalling and ingrossing of | Books in Pattents, and Raysing them to excessive prises. | Left to the Consideration of the High and Honou-nourable House of Parliament now assembled. | Let not one Brothor oppresse another. | Doe as you would be done unto. | At London, | Printed, not for profit, but for the Common Weles good and no where to be sold, but some where to be given. 1641. The Epistle to the Reader. Courteous Reader (or otherwise) if thou lookest for the Reason of writing this Book, here it is, and so Anonimus leaves thee. Non nobis Solum, nati sumus, sed partim patriæ. Bibles for Churches new Translation Church Bibles sold in former times in quires at lation, 1' 10 sold now (in quires) 2', so raysed in every Book Kings Printers i.e. King James' version. i.e. the Notes of the Geneva Bible. i.e. blackletter. Patent of London. 1. 10. If they Print 3000. of an Impression, raised 1500'. Large Folio Bibles of a Roman Print, with the Notes, sold in former times in quires at 12 64: The same sort now without the Notes be raysed 7 6d in a Book: 1500. of an Impression so raysed in every Book, amounts to 5621 10$. Cambridge Bibles Folio of long primer letter, vide Cambridge Charter. Large Folio English Letter with Notes, be sold at 13 4a in quires. And small Folio English, sold 12 in quires: none of this sort Printed now. In the yeare 1629, the want of these sorts of Folio Bibles caused Cambridge Printers to print it, and they sold it at 10 in quires: upon which the then Kings Printers set six Printing-houses at worke, and on an instant Printed one Folio Bible in the same manner, and sold with it 500. Quarto Roman Bibles, and 500. Quarto English, at 5 a Book, to overthrow the Cambridge Printing, and so to keep all in their own hands. It were well if they would alwayes sell at this price. 2. This Folio would not [p. (2), A 2 b.] i.e. of 11 July 1637: see Arber, Transcript, vol. iv. pp. 528536. [p. (3), A 3 a.] Geneva with it at 5 sh, which would have bin 12 sh at least, and the 4to at 5 sh, which was before 9 sh. In former times our Kings Printers did agree with Mr. Andrew Hart, and after with Mr. John Hart Book-sellers of Edenburg to serve them London Bibles at lower rates then they sold them at here: so that they would not Print whereby they might keep all the priviledges to themselves, since which Robert Young and Miles Flesher, most cunningly com- bined with the Kings Printers here, and so sunke the Printinghouse there, so that now Scotland is destitute; and by this means Books are raysed to greater rates here, and there likewise. Scots Printers. Ireland Patent, 2. The Kings Printers and others here being interessed in the Irish stock, sold Mr. William Bladon of Dublin their Stock there, and Pattent, and have so Bound him, as he shall not Print but what they list of their priviledge, so that Scotland and Ireland must grind at their Mill. Observe. in what a case these be: for Bibles, especially if the last Decree in Starchamber had held, concerning Printing: for all must be bought at one place to serve three Kingdomes. Cambridge Bible Folio. Cambridge Large Folio Bible Roman, of the best paper, sold at 11 10, in quires, or cheaper, they raysed it 10% on a Book, and sold it at 2'. Cambridge Medyum Folio Bible Roman, sold at, or cheaper then 1' 2s 6d in quires; the Monopolists raise 75, 6d and sell it at 1' 10", Cambridge thinne paper Folio Roman, sold at, or cheaper then 16s in quires; the Monopolists raised it 4', and so sell it at 11 in quires. See the errors corrrected in the Cambridge Bibles, which were printed in the London. It is judged that the price Raised in these three sorts, is not lesse in the totall sum then 200 li. And the Monopolists have compounded with them that they shall print no more Bibles, but for the Monopolists. Cambridge Quarto Roman Letter Bibles, with Psalms, sold at 7. They have raised on a Book 3, and so sell it with Psalmes at 10 in quires, which if the Monopolists should buy but a 1000. it would be raised 150'.. Cambridge Quarto English Letter, with Psalmes sold in quires at 6*. raysed on a Book 2$ 4. now the Monopolists sell it at 8 4d: if 3000 be ingrossed by them, it would raise 350'. Observe, they have not only bought in al those Bibles with Psalmes, and Grammers, and Schoole Books, but have for ever agreed 2. for what shalbe printed both there and at Oxford Oxford Charter. London Bibles in Quarto. London Bible Quarto English Letter, with the Notes and Concordance of the old Translation in times past was sold at 7 sh. in quires, and then it was 139. sheets, and now but 116 and no Notes, and sold at 9. sh 2a with Concordance: 3000. raysed makes 350'. London Quarto Roman with Notes, sold in times past at 78. The Quarto R.F.H.'s Roman now with no Notes sold at 10. sh. in quires, so raysed in an Impression Concordof 3000 5001. ance. There hath been at least 12000. of these Bibles Quarto with Notes i.e. 3d worth of paper. i.e. a of a hundred. Printed in Holland, and sold very reasonable: and many brought from Great pitty our Printing should be forced to be The High Commis sion. I have known divers London Octavo Bibles. In former times Bibles in Octavo sold at 3. sh. 4a in quires, are now sold at 4. sh. in quires, though then 9. sheets more then now. There have been 10000. printed in a year, which might have been afforded at 3 sh. a Book. So that there might have been saved to the Subject in an Impression 500'. Bibles 8to of a Large paper, not 3d in a Book more then the other, and sold at 6. sh. 2a in quires: are raysed 2. sh. 2d in a Book, which makes in that Impression of 6000. the summe of 650. Scottish Bibles, London Bibles of a little Larger paper. Scots Bibles Octavo, London. Printed of excellent paper and print at Edenburg, sold in London 26. to the quartern, and London Bibles quarter but 25. to the quartern at our rates, notwithstanding the charg and hazard of importation. London Bible in 12 sold at 4. sh. in quires, stands not them in 1. sh. 84; there may be saved to the Subject in an Impression 500', and they great gainers. Scottish Bible 12. sold 26 to the quartern, better paper, and better print then those here: now al Scots printing of Bibles is taken away by Young and Fletcher, two main projectors. [p. (4), A 3 b.] i.e. a halfpenny. Scots Bible Edenburg. Holland Bible in 12 sold at 2. sh. in quires, better Holland vide 1639. then the London one of 1639 sold at 4 sh. pitty the manufactory should be carried thither by deare selling here. Latin Bibles 12 of Amsterdam, printed well, and sold at 2 sh. in quires, and good paper. London Latin Lattin Bibles. Observe London Stationers that bought of the Lattin Holland Bibles, punished in the High Commission for buying Lattin Bibles from Holland, a yeare before ever any were printed in London; observe what a but of Sack might doe. London Testament octavo, sold at 10 in quires, raised to 1 sh. which 2d upon a Bock makes in 12000 impression a year 1001. Scots Testament at Edenburg, sold here in London at 10a, better paper and print than ours here. London Testaments in 12, at 7d. raysed 3a in a Book, sold now at 10a, make in 6000. the over prise, rated 751. Cambridge Testament 24. were sold at 6a in quires. London Test. 24 sold at 8 a Book, 2a a Book raysed in 4000, is 30'. London Common prayers in 24. raised ob upon a Book 4000 of them is 8' 6 sh 8d. |