The Newe Testament, corrected by William Tyndale

Collection ID

BIB.003033

Type

Bible - Printed Book

Date

1536

Geography

Likely Antwerp, (Belgium)

Language

English

Medium

Printed on Paper

Dimensions

8.15 × 6.5 × 2.0 in. (20.7 × 16.5 × 5.0 cm)

Exhibit Location

Not on View

William Tyndale’s 1536 edition of the New Testament was the final edition published prior to his martyrdom in the same year. This copy is one of three quarto variations, differentiated by the woodcut of the Apostle Paul depicted with his foot resting on a stone. In the first variation, the stone contains an engraver’s mark with the initials A. B. K.; in the second, the same stone contains the figure of a mole; and in the third, which this copy represents, the stone is blank. This copy is accordingly nicknamed the “blank stone” edition. It also contains a beautiful wood and leather cover, into which a cross is carved. Finally, as part of the bound edition, it includes the following: an introduction by Tyndale for the reader; a prologue to the book of Romans; “epistles taken out of the Old Testament”; and a “necessary table of epistles and gospels” to accompany the New Testament.

Printed in 1536 by an unknown printer.[1][2] Purchased at auction in 1935 by Quaritch.[3] Purchased at auction in 1950 by Maggs.[4][5] Acquired prior to 1995 by Mary Baker Eddy Collection, United States; Purchased prior to 1995 for the library of Jonathan Byrd; Purchased prior to 1995 by Dr. Craig Lampe, Arizona;[6] Purchased around 1995 or 1996 by Jean B. Prior, Noblesville, Indiana;[7] Purchased at auction by Rev. Paul J. Barkocy, Ashville, North Carolina, and Dr. Joe Johnson, Florida;[8] Ownership assumed in 2002 by Dr. John Kelly, State College, Pennsylvania;[9] Purchased in 2010 by Green Collection, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Donated in 2017 to National Christian Foundation (later The Signatry) under the curatorial care of Museum of the Bible.

Notes: [1] Darlow & Moule (§10) suppose the printer was in Antwerp. [2] There is a book plate inside the front cover which reads: “W. H. Morris.” To date, efforts to identify Morris have yielded no results. [3] An inscription on the inside of the back cover reads: “Lot 464 Sotheby’s 24-7-35.” Confirmed in Sotheby’s catalog. [4] There is a small paper containing a description of the Bible, ostensibly from an auction, pasted immediately below the previously mentioned inscription on the back cover, which reads: “Sotheby 5.vi.50 £24.” Confirmed in Sotheby’s catalog. [5] An inscription on a blank page in the front of the book reads: “A. Marguerite Smith bot from Edgar Heugers [or Heugan] June 1952” (this is an approximate transcription of the handwriting, which is not entirely clear). This likely indicates a sale between these two parties, though this cannot be said with certainty. Furthermore, there are various inscriptions, many illegible, throughout the Bible. [6] The purchase was by Dr. Craig Lampe for the library of Jonathan Byrd at a New England auction of Mary Baker Eddy’s collection of books. Per August 2019 email from Rev. Paul Barkocy to Museum of the Bible. [7] Per August 2019 email from Rev. Paul Barkocy to Museum of the Bible. [8] Ownership was then assumed by Rev. Paul J. Barkocy. Per August 2019 email from Rev. Paul Barkocy to Museum of the Bible. [9] Per August 2019 email from Dr. John Kelly to Museum of the Bible.

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