Calvin, John

Estimate

10,000 - 15,000 USD

bidding is closed

Description

A Faythful and moost Godlye Treatyse concernynge the most Sacret Sacrament of the Blessed Body and Bloude of oure Savioure Christe … translated into Latyne by Lacius … And nowe laste of all translated into Englyshe by a faythfull brother. (London: Imprinted by by John Day and Wyllyam Seres, [1548?])
leather,ink,paper

8vo (5 1/2 x 3 1/2 ins.; 137 x 89 mm). Gothic letter. Pinholes to title, repairs to lower corner of title and following leaf, early marginalia to first few leaves, a few shoulder-notes just shaved, a bit soiled at front. Modern morocco-backed marbled boards.

Provenance

William Herbert (1718–1795, bibliographer; with his initials and note on the title-page). acquisition: Bernard Quaritch, 2001

Literature

STC 4412; ESTC

Catalogue Note

This edition—one of four in English all dated by STC to "[1548?]"—is a candidate for Calvin's first appearance in English translation. A Faythful and moost Godlye Treatyse is a translation by Miles Coverdale of the Latin version by Nicholas Des Gallars of Calvin's Petit traité de la Sainte Cène. The three other STC editions all use the English translation of Thomas Broke. Four editions of Mynde of the Godly Man (a translation of Calvin's Petit traicté monstrant que doit faire un homme fidele entre les papistes) are also dated by STC to "[1548]."

Rare: This is evidently the first copy to appear at auction since the George Goyder sale at Sotheby's London, 2 April 1979; interestingly, the Goyder copy had also belonged to William Herbert.