The Great Bible, 1553 Edition
The Great Bible, 1553 Edition
BIB.003659
Bible - Printed Book
1553
England
English
Printed on paper
13 × 9.3 × 3.9 in. (33 × 23.6 × 10 cm)
On View in The Impact of the Bible, Bible in the World
This ninth edition of the Great Bible was published in 1553, between the death of Edward VI, a Protestant, and the reign of Mary I, a Catholic. Originally published in 1539 by order of Henry VIII, the Great Bible was the first authorized English-language Bible to be printed, gaining the name “Great” due to its size. A copy was ordered to be placed in every parish. Mary I’s efforts to reestablish Catholicism in England would lead authorities to destroy some copies of the 1553 edition. This copy is nearly complete, with portions such as the title page and some marginal notes damaged or missing due to wear as well as repairs by previous owners.
Printed in 1553 by Edward Whitchurch, London, England. Acquired by the 1760s by William Stubbersfield, unknown location.[1] Acquired by 2011 by David C. Lachman, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Privately purchased in 2011 by Green Collection, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Donated in 2016 to National Christian Foundation (later The Signatry), under the curatorial care of Museum of the Bible, Washington, DC.
Notes: Handwritten notes under the Bible’s table of contents provide information about William Stubbersfield and his family. No other information is available at this time.
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