1591 Bishops' Bible Leaf — 2 Kings 17–19, Hezekiah
1591 Bishops' Bible Folio Leaf — King Hezekiah & the Bronze Serpent
Step into the final decades of Elizabethan England with this genuine, original 1591 Bishops' Bible folio leaf, preserving a dramatic sequence of Old Testament history from 2 Kings Chapters 17–19.
Printed in London by Christopher Barker, Printer to Queen Elizabeth I, this substantial folio leaf comes from the Bishops' Bible tradition, an important English Bible of the Elizabethan Church and one of the principal English biblical translations preceding the King James Bible.
Measuring approximately 9¼" × 13¼", the leaf is printed in bold, double-column Gothic Black Letter and features two attractive historic woodcut initials introducing the chapters.
One particularly distinctive feature is the presence of historic handwritten annotations beneath the printed biblical text, adding a personal layer of reader interaction to this already significant Elizabethan Bible leaf.
FEATURED SCRIPTURE
2 Kings Chapters 17–19 — Hezekiah, the Bronze Serpent & the Siege of Jerusalem
This leaf preserves several important episodes from the history of Judah and the Assyrian threat, including:
2 Kings 17 — The fall of Samaria and the Assyrian conquest of the northern kingdom.
2 Kings 18 — The religious reforms of King Hezekiah, including his destruction of the bronze serpent made by Moses:
“he brake the images, and cut downe the groves, and all to brake the brazen serpent that Moses had made.”
2 Kings 18–19 — The Assyrian campaign against Judah and the siege of Jerusalem.
The Assyrian representatives' blasphemous challenge and psychological warfare directed toward Jerusalem and its inhabitants.
The combination of Hezekiah's reforms and the dramatic Assyrian confrontation makes this a compelling sequence of Old Testament history preserved in its original 16th-century printed form.
HISTORIC HANDWRITTEN ANNOTATIONS
One of the most distinctive features of this leaf is the presence of handwritten ink annotations directly beneath the printed biblical text.
The names “Eliakim” and “Sobnah” appear to have been written beneath their corresponding names in the printed text of Chapter 19. The handwriting is visibly historic and has acquired a naturally aged appearance over time.
The precise date and identity of the writer are unknown. However, these annotations preserve an intimate layer of the leaf's history, offering evidence of a later reader's interaction with the printed Scripture.
This leaf therefore preserves not only the words printed in the 1591 Bishops' Bible, but also a small surviving record of how the text was read and engaged with by a previous generation.
TYPOGRAPHY & VISUAL FEATURES
Original 1591 Bishops' Bible printing
Printed in London
Printer: Christopher Barker
Folio format
Approximately 9¼" × 13¼"
Double-column layout
Bold Gothic Black Letter typography
Two historic woodcut initial letters, “I” and “S”
Historic handwritten annotations beneath the printed text
Period marginal references and chapter headings
AUTHENTICITY & CONDITION
Certificate of Authenticity:
This historic leaf is accompanied by an official Certificate of Authenticity documenting its identification.
Overall Condition:
Very good antiquarian condition for a leaf approximately 435 years old, retaining the durable character and structural integrity of early European rag paper.
Text & Typography:
The printed text is bold, clear, and complete, with the principal text columns and main margins preserved.
Top Margin:
Two small historic rips are present along the very top edge. The tears remains confined to the blank margin, stopping short of the printed header area and leaving the text untouched.
Corners:
Two corners display gentle bending from historical handling, with no significant paper loss.
Tone & Patina:
The leaf exhibits a warm, attractive yellow age tone across the paper, accompanied by areas of light historic moisture staining, primarily within the margins.
Handwritten Annotations:
The historic ink annotations remain clear and well preserved. The writing has naturally toned with age, with no apparent ink bleeding or associated deterioration of the paper.
PRESERVATION & DISPLAY
With its substantial folio dimensions, bold blackletter typography, decorative woodcut initials, and historic handwritten annotations, this leaf makes a compelling candidate for archival preservation or professional framing.
The handwritten references to Eliakim and Sobnah provide an especially engaging human element, transforming the leaf from a historic printed page into a surviving record of interaction between an early reader and the biblical text.
For long-term preservation and display, archival acid-free materials and appropriate UV-protective glazing are recommended.
A remarkable survivor from the Elizabethan era, this leaf offers collectors a tangible connection to the history of the Bishops' Bible, early English printing, and the biblical narrative of Hezekiah and the Assyrian siege.
INQUIRIES
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Collection Reference: AS-1026
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