Lot 235
Calvin, John
Two rare 16th century English editions
Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs
Auction: 21 September 2023 at 10:00 BST
Description
[The Institution of Christian Religion]. [London: Richard Harrison, 1562]. Second edition in English, folio in eights (26.8 x 17.5cm), 19th-century 'divinity' calf over bevelled boards, spine and covers decorated in gilt and blind, edges dyed red, signatures [superscript pi]A8 ²pi1 3T-3X8 A-2S1 2T4 2V-3R8 3S4, text in black letter, lacking title-page (pi1: replaced with early calligraphic manuscript title in red and black dated 1578, with later restoration to upper fore corner), preliminary quire [superscript pi] A damp-stained and with several repairs, ²pi1 silked, 3T-3X ('The Table') bound at front between ²pi1 and A1, damp-stained at foot with concomitant softening and fraying along bottom edges, occasional light damp-staining thereafter, becoming slightly stronger towards rear, old repairs to L4 and margin of 2U8, 3M-3S (i.e. terminal quires as bound) with small worm-track in lower margins, bookplate [ESTC S107157; STC 4416];
Sermons, upon the Booke of Job. Translated out of French by Arthur Golding. London: for George Byshop and Thomas Woodcocke, 1579. Third edition in English, folio in eights (33 x 22cm), modern blue skiver, signatures [superscript pi]A4 *6 2*8 (2*8=blank) A-Y8 2A-2Y8 3A-3C8, text in roman letter, double column, elaborate architectonic woodcut border to title-page, woodcut initials, early manuscript recipe to verso of medial blank 2*8, worm-track to lower inner corner of text in first 20 or so leaves, marginal damp-staining towards front and rear, worming in gutter, very small worm-track in gutter at centre of volume (text never affected), title-page laid down, second leaf A2 chipped along top edge, 2C4-5 loose, closed tear in 2D5, rust-hole in 3B4, final quire 3C damp-stained and chipped, leaf 3C1 loosening, bookplate [ESTC S116835; STC 4446]
Footnote
Note: The first edition in English of Calvin's Institutes appeared the previous year; for this second edition ESTC traces six copies only in UK libraries. The first edition in English of his Sermons, upon the Booke of Job was published in 1574, with another edition following in the same year. This third edition is especially rare, ESTC tracing four copies world-wide; there was a subsequent re-issue with a cancel title-page dated 1580 as in the colophon.