Make an Offer | Ask a Question
 
1549 Matthew Bible - (Coverdale Apocrypha) "Wife-Beater" fragment (Herbert 74.)
The "Wife-Beater" Bible fragment contains a complete section of the Apocrypha. The text is arranged in two columns per page, with exactly 65 lines of very small Gothic "black letter" font. The page numbers and main headings are printed in a different, clearer Roman font style. This copy shows the exact layout used by printers John Day and William Seres for their famous 1549 edition. It stands out because of the long, opinionated study notes written in the margins by editor Edmund Becke. This specific printing became famous and highly controversial for these harsh notes, especially one on 1 Peter 3 that tells a husband to beat his wife if she refuses to obey him.
 
The Exterior: This rare textual fragment is housed in a premium, full dark-brown calfskin leather bespoke binding, masterfully executed in a sympathetic, 16th-century Tudor style. The polished leather finish exhibits a smooth texture with elegant, natural tonal variations that beautifully complement the antiquity of the leaves inside. Both the front and rear boards feature a sophisticated, multi-tiered blind-tooled design. This includes a thick, blind-stamped outer rule border framing a prominent, recessed central panel detailed with an interlocking diamond-lattice (lozenge) pattern. Each geometric diamond is accented with a delicately stamped floral sprig centerpiece. Stamped cleanly in a muted, period-style on the lower third of the front board is the explicit identification of the contents: "1549 / MATTHEW BIBLE / COVERDALE APOCRYPHA". The volume is finished with crisp, tight edges, sharp square corners, and an integrated dark-green cloth ribbon marker. A visually striking piece for a collection, exhibition or beautiful centerpiece for a Christian home.
 
The Interior: An exceptional, highly crisp internal section of the iconic 1549 "John Day" folio printing. This offering comprises the complete Apocrypha block, widely celebrated for its elaborate, multi-panel Renaissance architectural woodcut title border and bold Tudor Black Letter typography. The pages remain remarkably bright, retaining their structural rigidity and characteristic heavy, tactile chain-lined rag paper quality. Double-column Tudor Black Letter (Gothic script), 65 lines per column, with running headers, marginal references, and catchwords. Features a four-part woodcut title-page border containing classical columns, figures, and architectural motifs. Numerous historiated and decorated woodcut initial capitals throughout the text body.
 
Detailed Report:Margins are slightly trimmed down by a past binder, occasionally clipping a running header or marginal note but leaving the main text block entirely intact. Completely uniform age-toning throughout.

A localized area of severe historic damp-stainging with damage and loss is present at the outer vertical margin of two consecutive leaves in the Book of Judith (Chapters 12–13). This has resulted in a irregular tear with considerable paper loss (chipping) and brittle, frayed edges (Please see photos). The surrounding paper remains stable, but these two leaves require careful handling.

The volume features occasional, light period ink inscriptions, pen trials, and faint contemporary notations scattered sparsely throughout the margins. One page features a fascinating contemporary inscription written in a historic iron gall ink, it reads "A way doth slide / In time repent / Whil time is lent / 1589 Auguste 17". Early hand-written inscriptions like this are highly prized as they prove the book's active usage and history over the centuries.
 
We provide detailed photographs to allow you to assess the book's condition and aesthetic appeal. Read More
 
Make an Offer | Ask a Question
(520) 233-1949 | info@bookarchaeology.com
 
Please note: All offers will receive a response with 24hrs. If an offer is accepted we will adjust the price on the site and respond with an email link to purchase.