A Concordace, that is to saie, a work wherein by the ordre of the letters of the A.B.C. ye maie redely finde any worde conteigned in the whole Bible, so often as it is there expressed or mentioned.

MARBECKE, John.

$25,000.00

Item Number: 122671

London: Richardus Grafton, 1550.

Rare first edition of the first concordance in English to the Bible. Quarto, bound in full polished calf with raised bands and gilt titles to the spine, trimmed and mounted engraved title page. In near fine condition with some leaves supplied and mounted and restoration to the margins. One of the finest and most complete copies obtainable as this work is invariably found in defective condition. Housed in a custom slipcase. From the library of Anglo-Irish George Stokes with his bookplate to the pastedown and a presentation note signed by his daughter.

Though a concordance of the New Testament is said to have been done in 1542, Marbecke's A Concordāce remains the earliest obtainable form of a Bible concordance in English. Marbecke began work on the text in the 1530's, but his work was interrupted when he was condemned to the stake in 1543 for his work on the concordance, though happily he was pardoned. Upon his release from prison, Marbecke began work on the project anew, ultimately publishing his “greate worke” in abbreviated form in 1550. That same year he also published his setting of plainchant for the Anglican liturgy, Booke of Common Praier Noted. The present copy does not contain final leaf 3X1 containing a woodcut of Henry VIII, which is almost always lacking, nor the blank leaf A6.