1584 Bishops' Bible Leaf — 1 Esdras, Woodcut Initial

Genuine 1584 Bishops' Bible Quarto Leaf – 1 Esdras with Ornate Woodcut Initial

Add a tangible piece of the English Renaissance to your collection with this genuine 1584 Large Quarto leaf from the historic Bishops’ Bible.

Printed in London by Christopher Barker, Printer to Queen Elizabeth I, this remarkable 440+ year-old leaf provides an extraordinary glimpse into the craftsmanship, typography, and religious publishing of Elizabethan England.

This particular leaf comes from the Apocrypha, containing text from 1 Esdras, Chapters 7, 8, and 9. At the opening of Chapter 7 is a beautifully preserved large floriated woodcut initial “T,” adding an especially striking decorative element to the page.

Historical Significance

The Bishops’ Bible was first introduced in 1568 as the authorized English Bible associated with the Church of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

This leaf is from the 1584 Large Quarto edition, a substantially more manageable format than the monumental folio editions produced for ecclesiastical and institutional use. Quarto editions brought the text into a format suitable for private reading and study, making them important examples of the continuing transition of biblical printing into the domestic sphere.

Surviving leaves from these early Elizabethan printings provide collectors with a direct connection to the world of 16th-century English printing, religion, scholarship, and bookmaking.

Technical Specifications & Bibliographical Identifiers

Format: Large Family Quarto — approximately 9¼" × 12¼"

Typography: Crisp, dense Gothic Blackletter type characteristic of early English printing.

Column Structure: The leaf contains 61 lines of text per full column, consistent with the 1584 Large Quarto printing and supporting its identification.

Text: 1 Esdras, Chapters 7–9, from the Apocrypha.

Decorative Feature: Large floriated woodcut initial “T” opening Chapter 7.

Textual Characteristics: The page preserves the distinctive Elizabethan English of the Bishops’ Bible, including period spelling and translation conventions that differ from later English Bible editions.

Authenticity & Condition

Condition: Excellent antique condition. The early cotton-linen rag paper remains remarkably strong, stable, and flexible, displaying a beautiful and naturally even age-toning consistent with its considerable age.

Authenticity: Guaranteed genuine and original 1584 printing.

No COA included

As with all genuine antiquarian leaves, minor characteristics associated with age, handling, and historical use should be appreciated as part of the artifact's story rather than viewed simply as imperfections.

Preservation & Display

To safeguard this remarkable piece of English printing history for generations to come, we recommend housing the leaf in an acid-free archival sleeve and, if displayed, using UV-protective glazing while keeping it away from direct sunlight.

This is more than an antique page—it is an original surviving fragment of the Elizabethan printing world, produced during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I more than four centuries ago.

INQUIRIES

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Collection Reference: AS-1014

Every page has a story. Every story deserves to be preserved.

Preserving History • Inspiring Faith • Connecting Generations.