(BIBLE

<<THE LONDON POLYGLOT>>). Walton, Brian, (Ed.) Old and New Testament and Apocrypha. Text in nine languages: Hebrew, Samaritan, Chaldean (Targum Onkelos), Greek, Latin, Syriac, Ethiopic, Arabic, and Persian.
Complete in six volumes. Frontispiece engraving of Walton by Pierre Lombart. Engraved title, maps and plates by Wenceslaus Hollar. Title within architectural columns, between which stand Moses (left) and Aaron (right), while pedestals bear vignettes of Adam and Eve in Paradise (left) and Noah’s Ark (right). Extensive engravings include the Temple in Jerusalem (both exterior and interior), the sacred vessels, and a relief map of ancient Jerusalem. All Hebrew texts provided with nikud (vowel points). Printed in a variety of exotic types. * Vol. I (Pentateuch): pp. (16), 53, 38, (2), 102 [i.e. 106], (2), 865. * Vol. II (Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther): pp. 889, (1), 29, (1). * Vol. III (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Twelve Minor Prophets): pp. 447, (1), 389, (1), 227, (1), 149, (1). * Vol. IV: (Apocrypha) pp. 87, 128, 23, (1), 20, 159, (1); (Targum Jonathan ben Uziel and Targum Yerushalmi, and Persian - to Pentateuch) pp. 390. * Vol. V (New Testament): pp. 983, (1). * Vol. VI (Appendix - contains critical essays, tables, variant readings, annotations and indices): pp. (2), 72, 56, 98 (i.e. 68), 80, 196, 140, 24, 58, 36, 36, 96 (i.e. 74), (2).
Ruled in red throughout. Some staining and light wear, previous owner’s marks. Uniform contemporary gilt-tooled calf, rebacked with Valmadonna-custom gilt-titling along spines, rubbed. Lg. folio. Vinograd, London 7; Darlow and Moule 5130 and 1446; Berkowitz, In Remembrance of Creation 182; Laor, Maps of the Holy Land 339.
London: Thomas Roycroft 1655-57
The fourth and the last of the great Polyglots, known as the London, or Walton’s Polyglot. A monument of English scholarship and typography.===The original ("Republican") version of this tremendous Bible appeared with a lengthy preface in Volume I discussing Oliver Cromwell’s role in the importation of paper for this edition. Following the Restoration, copies not yet sold were given a "Loyalist" preface, which omitted mention of Cromwell’s help in the production of this Bible. The present set is the post-Restoration version, with the “Loyal” preface in Volume I, omitting mention of Oliver Cromwell, but does not contain the dedication to Charles II.===<< The most accurate and best-equipped of the great Polyglots>> (see Darlow & Moule 1446).