MATTHEW'S BIBLE, 1551. The Byble, that is to say, all the holye scripture: in which are contayned the olde and the newe Testament, truly and purely translated into Englishe and now lately with great industry and diligence recognysed. Imprinted at London by Robert Toye, dwelling in Paule's Churche yarde, at the sign of the Bell. VI day of Maye MDLI. Colophon: Imprinted at London by Nicolas Hyll, dwelling in Saynt John's Streate, at the cost and charges of certayne honest menne of the occupacyon, whose names be upon their books. Before the colophon is printed: Here endeth the whole Byble after the translation of Thomas Mathew.

Thick folio. Title and last leaf in facsimile. Four divisional title pages are present: before Joshua, Psalms (lacking right half of leaf), Apocrypha and New Testament. Woodcut initial letters throughout. Lacking a total of 48 leaves or part leaves, including all the first 36 leaves. Text begins at the end of Genesis 31. Some leaves torn with loss, but all defective leaves have been professionally repaired. All the missing or defective leaves are supplied in facsimile, separately bound. The vendor went to the John Rylands Library in Manchester and, with permission, took their copy to a window ledge to get the best light. He then photographed all the missing and defective pages, and subsequently had them printed out and bound up. The facsimiles are excellent and the title page and kalendar are printed in red and black.

Recent full calf. Good margins, firmly bound, a very useable copy. With a bound volume of the missing and defective pages in facsimile. Herbert 92. (2)

Cataloguer's note: The Matthew Bible was first published in 1537. It blended together the best work of William Tyndale and Miles Coverdale, and is 'generally considered to be the real primary version of the English Bible' (Herbert). Thomas Matthew is taken to be the pseudonym of John Rogers, Tyndale's intimate friend, who printed this version. Rogers was burnt at the stake in 1555.

This Bible is sometimes known as the 'Bug' Bible for the reading in Psalm 91 v5, 'So that thou shalt not nede to be afrayed for anye bugges by nyghte'. 'Terror' is used in later versions.