DescriptionMerbecke, JohnA Concorda[n]ce, that is to saie, a worke wherein by the ordre of the letters of the A.B.C. ye maie redely finde any worde conteigned in the whole Bible, so often as it is there expressed or mencioned. [London:] (Richardus Grafton typographus Regius excudebat, July) 1550
Small folio (288 x 200 mm). Woodcut border to the title (McKerrow & Ferguson 67), Grafton's large device on verso (McKerrow 104a), fine full-page woodcut of Henry VIII in Council at the end, a6 blank and genuine; blank corner of the title-page renewed, slightly wormed at beginning and more seriously in last 56 leaves affecting text and final woodcut, some damp-staining, tears in Ml and 3N. Contemporary London binding of calf over wooden boards by the binder "F.D.," the covers paneled in blind with a double quatrefoil and lozenge roll enclosing a panel using a roll of the heads of Erasmus, Huss, Luther, and Melanchthon, with the initials of the binder; repairs to head and tail of spine, clasps missing, covers wormed, corners repaired, new endleaves (repairs to binding by H. Bailey of Salisbury, 1947).
First edition of the first concordance to the whole English Bible.
John Merbecke was a chorister at Windsor; he was sentenced to death in 1543 as a heretic for owning a pamphlet of Calvin's but obtained a royal pardon, probably because of his connection to the Chapel Royal at Windsor. His papers were, however, destroyed, and he had to recommence work on this concordance. This is the first concordance in English that covers the whole of the Bible, though the printed version was somewhat abbreviated from Marbeck's original, because of the expense of using so much paper.
"[W]hen the English 'Matthew' Bible appeared in 1537, [Merbecke] resolved to own a copy. Being unable to afford one, he began writing it out by hand, but later diverted his energies to the more useful enterprise of compiling a concordance to the same publication" (ODNB). Very uncommon.
REFERENCE:ESTC S114449; STC 17300; cf. Oldham, English Blind-Stamped Bindings, plate xxix
PROVENANCE:Edward Pease (early ownership inscription and two deleted inscriptions on title-page) — W. H. R. Blacking of Salisbury — George Goyder (book label; purchased from Peter Murray Hill in 1951)Condition reportCondition as described in catalogue entry.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colors and shades which are different to the lot's actual color and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation. The condition report is a statement of opinion only. For that reason, the condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS ONLINE CONDITION REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE/BUSINESS APPLICABLE TO THE RESPECTIVE SALE.
DescriptionMerbecke, JohnA Concorda[n]ce, that is to saie, a worke wherein by the ordre of the letters of the A.B.C. ye maie redely finde any worde conteigned in the whole Bible, so often as it is there expressed or mencioned. [London:] (Richardus Grafton typographus Regius excudebat, July) 1550
Small folio (288 x 200 mm). Woodcut border to the title (McKerrow & Ferguson 67), Grafton's large device on verso (McKerrow 104a), fine full-page woodcut of Henry VIII in Council at the end, a6 blank and genuine; blank corner of the title-page renewed, slightly wormed at beginning and more seriously in last 56 leaves affecting text and final woodcut, some damp-staining, tears in Ml and 3N. Contemporary London binding of calf over wooden boards by the binder "F.D.," the covers paneled in blind with a double quatrefoil and lozenge roll enclosing a panel using a roll of the heads of Erasmus, Huss, Luther, and Melanchthon, with the initials of the binder; repairs to head and tail of spine, clasps missing, covers wormed, corners repaired, new endleaves (repairs to binding by H. Bailey of Salisbury, 1947).
First edition of the first concordance to the whole English Bible.
John Merbecke was a chorister at Windsor; he was sentenced to death in 1543 as a heretic for owning a pamphlet of Calvin's but obtained a royal pardon, probably because of his connection to the Chapel Royal at Windsor. His papers were, however, destroyed, and he had to recommence work on this concordance. This is the first concordance in English that covers the whole of the Bible, though the printed version was somewhat abbreviated from Marbeck's original, because of the expense of using so much paper.
"[W]hen the English 'Matthew' Bible appeared in 1537, [Merbecke] resolved to own a copy. Being unable to afford one, he began writing it out by hand, but later diverted his energies to the more useful enterprise of compiling a concordance to the same publication" (ODNB). Very uncommon.
REFERENCE:ESTC S114449; STC 17300; cf. Oldham, English Blind-Stamped Bindings, plate xxix
PROVENANCE:Edward Pease (early ownership inscription and two deleted inscriptions on title-page) — W. H. R. Blacking of Salisbury — George Goyder (book label; purchased from Peter Murray Hill in 1951)Condition reportCondition as described in catalogue entry.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colors and shades which are different to the lot's actual color and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation. The condition report is a statement of opinion only. For that reason, the condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS ONLINE CONDITION REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE/BUSINESS APPLICABLE TO THE RESPECTIVE SALE.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
