Folio, (286 x 187 mm). 12 ff., 268 ff., 67 ff., 88 ff., 1 ff. (table and errata). Contemporary green morocco, elaborately tooled wide frame with interlacing tools, cornerpieces, small red morocco inlays, supralibros of the Countess of Pomfret on boards, raised bands to spine, two red morocco lettering pieces, corners somewhat bumped, hinges rubbed, rebacked preserving original spine, some losses to lettering pieces, overall good. Some overall light toning as usual, else in excellent condition.

This edition is Valera’s important revision of Reina’s (c.1520-1594) Bible, a convert to Protestantism, which he created by using other sources than Saint Jerome’s Vulgate, Greek and Hebrew manuscripts, Ferrara’s 1553 version, amongst others.

Valera, alongside Reina and other protestant priests, fled Spain in 1557 from the Spanish Inquisition; Valera established first in Geneva, and later in England, where he completed his translations, and published his revision of the New Testament in London in 1596 under the title ‘El Testamento Nuevo de Nuestro Señor Iesu Christo’, printed by Richard Field.

This first edition of Valera’s Bible is also known as the Biblia del Cantaro because of the illustration on the title page, a man plants a tree whilst another waters it with water coming from a pitcher, symbolizing purification.

Provenance: Henrietta Louisa Jeffreys Countess of Pomfret Lady of the Bed-chamber to Queen Caroline, her large engraved bookplate on front pastedown; manuscript ownership inscription to back of title page “Henry Bateman, his booke he bought at London Anno 1630...”; private collection.

Palau, 28942; Darlow y Moule, 8475.