Books and Manuscripts

The Great "She" Bible

(London: Robert Barker, 1611-1613). Second folio edition. Folio, 16 x 10 1/2 in. (406 x 267 mm). (A3-4), B4, C6, D5, A-5C6; A6-Aa5; lacking two preliminary leaves (A1 and A2: general title-page and part of dedication); lacking final leaf Aa6 at rear; Genealogies bound in before Genesis, lacking John Speed map of Canaan and pp. 7/8 and 23/24. Printed in two columns, 59 lines per column; black letter; headlines, chapter contents, marginal references printed in roman type; calendar printed in red and black. Illustrated with an ornate woodcut title-page for New Testament, as well as woodcut initials and head and tail pieces. Contemporary full brown calf over heavy reverse beveled wooden boards, elaborately stamped in blind, foot of spine stamped in gilt, original brass furniture intact, rebacked with original spine laid down; all edges trimmed; modern marbled endpapers; edges and gutter of dedication leaf repaired; bottom corner B2 repaired; scattered soiling and light dampstaining to text leaves; large stains on leaves 3Y4, 4J4V-4J5R, 4N1, 4P5, 4Q2, 4U4, 5B5, A2R-C2R (New Testament), and K1; scattered repairs to edges, corners, and gutters, especially in New Testament, some touching letters; larger repairs on 4Q2, 4U4, 5B5, B4 (New Testament), D2R, D5, E1-6, K, S2-6, Bb6-Aa5; scattered marginalia. Herbert 319

Rare second folio edition of the King James Bible, famously known as the "Great She Bible", considered one of the greatest works in the English language. Containing over 780,000 words, this edition is famous for the presence of a single letter in Ruth iii, 15 (Bb2). The first edition contains the passage "he went into the citie" while the second edition contains the more correct reading of "she went into the citie." This discrepancy lies more in the ambiguity of the passage than perhaps any fault at the hands of the typesetter. While the Hebrew text says "he" went into the city, referring to Boaz, the context of the passage makes more sense with "she", referring to Ruth. This copy also contains the error in Matt xxvi, 36 with "Judas" printed instead of "Jesus" (C6, NT). In this copy someone has crossed out the former and written in the latter.