Ancient Bibles

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 262, 26 January 1928, Page 1

Ancient Bibles

gARLY EDITIONS IN N.Z. FIRST authorised version Press Association. NELSON* Wednesday. , press Association message from , hr i«tchurch described a Bible printed >BOB as being probably the oldest in V.w Zealand. Mr. James Witten, a y.lson resident, has a Bible, part at t of which was printed in 1590. It . m ued edition combining parts of «veral editions of diffrent dates. The old Testament was printed in 1599 and was based on the text of ‘•Breeches,” Ceneva Bible. The remainder of h 0 volume possessed by Witten con;“ing books of Apocrj pha dated 1599. A \ ? w Testament, printed in 1610, is ' jU m its original full leather 'cover and is very well preserved. The old illustrations, wood-cuts, are of addiMiinai interest. Mr. Witten had the gible handed down to him from his ::ather. A RARE COLLECTION ORIGINAL VENETIAN EDITIONS Press Association. MASTERTON, Wednesday. In connection with ancient Bibles referred to in a Press Association message for Christchurch and Nelson, Sir. A C. Clemass, a noted book collector, resident of Masterton, has in his possession many Bibles more ancient than those referred to. Among his collection are two original Latin Bibles printed at Venice, 1473 and 1480, and others printed in 1491. 1519, and 1588. Mr. Clemass’s Engiish Bibles include copies printed in London in 1540 ("Treacle” Bible), 1449 (“Bugges” Bible), 1577 (“Breeches’ Bible), 1599 (another edition of "Breeches" Bible), and 1613 (“He and She 1 ’ Bible), the latter being the first correct edition of present authorised version. These Bibles were recently exhibited in arts and antiques section of the Wairarapa Industrial Exhlbitiofl.