1582 Geneva Bible — 1 Kings 3–5
1582 Geneva Bible Quarto Leaf — 1 Kings 3–5
The Judgment & Wisdom of Solomon
An authentic, original 1582 Geneva Bible quarto leaf preserving some of the most memorable accounts from the opening years of King Solomon's reign. This substantial Elizabethan-era leaf contains passages from 1 Kings, Chapters 3 through 5, including Solomon's prayer for wisdom, the famous judgment involving two women claiming the same child, the prosperity and organization of Solomon's kingdom, and the initial preparations for the construction of the Temple.
The Geneva Bible was one of the most influential English Protestant translations of the sixteenth century and became particularly important among English-speaking Protestant communities. Its extensive marginal commentary and distinctive page design made it especially useful to readers of the period.
Item Specifics
Year: 1582
Version: Geneva Bible
Printer: Christopher Barker, Printer to the Queen's most excellent Majesty
Material: Original 16th-century handmade rag paper
Dimensions: 7 ¾" × 10 ¾"
Format: Quarto
Certificate of Authenticity: Included
Text Content & Visual Highlights
1 Kings 3 — Solomon's Wisdom:
The leaf preserves Solomon's prayer for understanding and God's granting of wisdom to the young king. It also contains the celebrated account of the two women who bring their dispute before Solomon, whose judgment reveals the true mother.
The historic running headlines include:
“Salomons wisdome”
“The two harlots”
1 Kings 4 — The Kingdom of Solomon:
The text continues with the organization and prosperity of Solomon's kingdom, including the extensive provisions required to sustain the royal household and the remarkable wisdom attributed to Solomon.
1 Kings 5 — Preparations for the Temple:
The leaf then moves into Solomon's preparations for the construction of the Temple, including his dealings with Hiram, King of Tyre, and the arrangements for obtaining the materials needed for the monumental undertaking.
Marginal Commentary:
The leaf retains the characteristic Geneva marginal notes, printed alongside the biblical text and providing readers with the extensive commentary for which the Geneva Bible is particularly recognized.
Condition & Preservation Report
Format & Paper:
The leaf measures 7 ¾" × 10 ¾", representing the classic quarto format. It is printed on sturdy, original sixteenth-century handmade rag paper with crisp typography and excellent overall structural integrity.
Age & Patina:
The leaf displays a warm historic patina, with a few light, scattered stains consistent with more than four centuries of age and handling.
Text Preservation:
The text remains fully legible on both sides, with no loss of printed content. The original page headlines and marginal apparatus remain intact.
Documentation:
Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.
This leaf offers an especially appealing combination of historic significance and biblical subject matter, preserving the accounts of Solomon's wisdom, the Judgment of Solomon, the prosperity of his kingdom, and the earliest preparations for the Temple within a single original sixteenth-century Geneva Bible leaf.
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Collection Reference: AS-1037
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