Biblical Manuscripts
For the past twenty years I have had the privilege of caring for a superlative collection of original Bible leaves. Each one is a treasure, touched by the hands of people of faith now long gone and loved by countless people in countless places. Each leaf has a story that is more than just the words written on it, for it may have seen wars, inspired great acts of self-sacrifice or perhaps been secreted away for fear of persecution.
How they have survived is miraculous. I am in awe of their artistic presence and historical significance, as well as their communication from God Himself. Though the message they contain continues to travel through time its vehicle has changed. No longer do individual men of faith put ink to paper or vellum, each stroke a labor of love. The collection I have is part of a dwindling trove that will never be reproduced.
My late husband and I were honored to be custodians of this collection in our home in Colorado. As each one was acquired we had them framed professionally according to conservationist policies and they were a signature display for all visitors to enjoy.
I am now entering a chapter in my life when I need to downsize. This irreplaceable treasure needs to pass into someone else’s hands to be cared for and appreciated for many generations to come.
I have decided to reach out to various people and entities that may have an interest in acquiring my collection. There are some 27 leaves which can be seen online at the web address below and can be personally viewed at my place of business in Beaver Creek, Colorado. With a reserve of $15,000 I will consider offers for the entire collection.
I would be happy to answer any questions personally. If you wish to connect by phone please email me your contact information.
Thank you for your consideration, Peggy Horton | peggy@hortonfineart.com
Presented in alphabetical order:
1st Printed Irish Translation
From the first printed translation in Irish of the Old Testament. The title page runs as follows: “The books of the Old Testament, translated into Irish by the Care and Diligence of Dr. William Bedel, Late Bishop of Kilmore in Ireland, and for the Publick Good of that Nation.” Printed in London, 1685, the edition being limited to 500, of which eighty were apportioned to the Gaelic parishes in Scotland. Although the Apocrypha was set up for this edition, the London printer who had the work in hand refused to include it, and all concerned had to bow to his prejudice.
@1927 T.F.I.
Biblia Latina 1492 A.D.
Biblia Latina 1492 A.D. Prophets [Unframed]
Printed by the well known Johann Gruninger at Strassburg. This fine example of the bookmaker’s art shows the 50 year attempts by printers to harken back to the earlier manuscripts by hand lettering initials, and rubicated notation of all the paragraphs throughout. This leaf is from “Prophets” and shows the text surrounded by commentary a la legal texts of the times. Neat Gothic in two columns.
Unframed
Biblia Sacra 1580 A.D.
A leaf from the Biblia Sacra, the first Latin Bible to be printed in England. The printer was Henry Middleton, London 1580. The type is roman with italic notes. In this first edition, the New Testament is in Tremellius’ translation from the Syriac. The paper is of fine quality and quite thin, and has stood the test of time remarkably well. This Bible is certainly one to be listed in one’s catalogue of rare Bibles as there were only 14 extant in the United States in 1960.
Bishops Bible
First Edition, first printing of a 1568 Bishop’s Bible leaf printed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Daniel 1260 – 1275 A.D.
Handwritten, Paris, France 1260-1275 A.D.
Eliot Bible 1660 – 1668
The Eliot Indian Bible was printed in Cambridge, Massachusetts, by Samuel Green and Marmaduke Johnson between 1660 and 1663. It comprises the entire Bible translated by John Eliot (1604-1690) into the Natick dialect of the Algonquin American natives then living in Massachusetts and along the east coast of New England. It is the first complete Bible printed in the western hemisphere and it is the first translation of the Bible into any new language for use by missionaries. It was printed on what is now the site of Harvard University, near Boston, only forty years after the Pilgrim Fathers had crossed the Atlantic in the Mayflower in 1620.
Geneva Bible (x2) 1560 A.D.
This leaf is from the First Edition of the Geneva Bible, printed in 1560. The Geneva Bible was the ‘Bible of the Protestant Reformation”, and the Bible of the Puritans and Pilgrims. It was the first Bible to be taken to America and the first English language Bible to add numbered verses to each chapter of scripture. Its extensive marginal study notes made it the first study Bible of the English people.
Geneva Bible 1560-1644 A.D.
First English Bible to use numbered verses
First English Bible to use Roman type
Bible of Shakespeare, the Pilgrims, and the Puritans
Bible of Calvin, Knox, and Bunyan
Bible of the Protestant Reformation
First Bible taken to America
Great Bible 1st Edition 1540 A.D.
Printed during the reign of Edward VIHebrew Bible 1544 A.D.
c1964 T.F.I.
Hebrew Pentateuch 1617-1618 A.D.
From the Hebrew Pentateuch, printed in four volumes by Pierre de la Roviere in Geneva, 1617-1618. In studying the progress of printing in Europe it must not be forgotten that besides the innumerable designs or “faces” of roman or gothic type in demand, two other alphabets engaged the printers attention, vix., Greek and Hebrew. The study of the Greek had become so widespread that there were few large printing establishments that did not add one or more Greek fonts to their equipment, while the sale of books in Hebrew was sufficient to warrant at least one press in each large printing center paying some attention to the demand. Roviere of Geneva was one of these specialists and became quite famous for his careful, scholarly work.
c1964 T.F.I.
Hebrew Pentateuch Early 18th Century
From Hebrew Pentateuch, Genesis, Exodus. With Targum and Saadiah's Arabic translation in alternate verses, the text is with vowels and accents; the Arabic unvocalized. The foliated pages are written in Yemenite characters of the early 18th Century. A large leaf(8 x 13 1/2″) of thick, heavy paper showing the accumulated thumb soil of years of use.
Josephus 1544 A.D.
King James Pulpit Bible 1611 A.D.
This leaf is from the First Edition of the 1611 King James Pulpit Bible
Latin Vulgate 1558 A.D. (unframed)
From a Latin Version of the Bible, printed by the heirs of Carola Guillard, relict of Claude Chevallon, at Paris in 1558. This version of the Vulgate, edited by Johannes Benedictus, represents one of the attempts. parallel to that of the great Robert Estienne (Stephanus), to produce a more accurate text. The marginal notes profess to show where the Latin differs from the Hebrew and Greek originals, and to give more literal renderings of certain words and sentences. Yet the various editions of Benedictus were eventually placed on the “Index Expurgatorious.” Typographically this book represents much that was best in Sixteenth Century French printing: the very spirit of the Renaissance still lingers in its delicate roman type and the graceful lines of the initial letters, which, with the marginal notes, relieve the page of all monotony. It is scarcely necessary to add that these initials, and practically all the typographical decorations of this date, were laboriously cut from wood.
Latin Vulgate 1628 A.D
A leaf from the Vulgate edition of the Bible, printed at the celebrated Plantin Press in Antwerp in 1628.
No matter how sweeping the typographic critic may condemn the printers of Germany and the Low Countries, he will hesitate over Plantin books, admit their usual delicacy, then remember that Christophe Plantin came from France, and presto! his hesitancy vanishes: he is all praise.
An example of a Bible published forty years after the death of the founder may seem inadequate to represent so famous a press, yet this particular book is unusually scarce, and simple, though the page arrangement, there is no denying its even beauty and remarkable legibility
1964 T.F.I.
New Testament in Greek 1678 A.D.
From a New Testament in Greek, issued by the house of Elzevir at Amsterdam in 1678. Such an exaggerated idea has obtained both of the artistic and monetary value of biiks bearing the imprint of this celebrated Dutch house that it has ever been the fashion for society novelists to endow their heroes with “a well-stocked library of Elzevirs.” As a matter of fact the two Elzevir establishments turned out vast quantities none of which attained the highest craftsmanship. All were excellently edited and carefully printed, however, during a period when wretched, unscholarly books were pouring from other presses. The House of Elzevire also specialized in small editions of the clasics, of which this leaf is a good example: a neatly set-up, clean-cut page, it’s effect here being greatly enhanced by its having been affixed at a later date to a large blank sheet with such skill that the first effect is that of embossing.
c1926 T.F.I.
Rhemes New Testament 1582 A.D.
This leaf is from the First Edition of the 1582 Rhemes New Testament, the first English translation of the New Testament to have been authorized by the Roman Catholic Church.
Tyndale Bible 1st Edition 1537 A.D. (Matthew’s Bible)
Two original leaves from a first edition Tyndale Bible printed in 1537. From the first printing of the English Bible translated from the original languages of Greek and Hebrew. Only 1500 of these Bibles were printed by John Rogers, an apprentice to its translator, William Tyndale. Fewer than 20, however, are known to exist today. William Tyndale was burned at the stake just a year earlier in 1536 for translating the Word of God into English.
Tyndale New Testament (4) printed 1535-1536 A.D
These leaves are from the Tyndale New Testament printed in 1535-1536. These leaves were printed during the lifetime of William Tyndale,
who was burned at the stake in 1536 for translating the Bible into English. It is the earliest available printing of the Bible in the
English language on a piece of paper.
