He Palaia Diatheke Kata tous Ebdomekonta. Vetus Testamentum Graecum ex Versione Septuaginta Interpretum.

Item Number: 117048

Cambridge: John Field, 1665.

Rare 17th century Greek Bible containing the Old and New Testaments. 12mo, two volumes bound in full 18th century morocco with gilt titles and elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, double gilt ruling and miniature fleuron cornerpeices to the front and rear panels, stamped turn-ins and inner dentelles, all edges gilt, patterned endpapers, woodcut devices to the title pages, text in two columns. In fine condition. Ownership inscription.

Originally a bookseller, English printer John Field became printer to the English Parliament and Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland in 1649. In 1655, Field was appointed printer to the University of Cambridge, the year in which Cromwell ordered the copyright of the Bible to be entered to him and Henry Hills in the Stationers’ Registers. This act was virulently opposed by many competing printers. Field printed many editions of the Bible, notably a quarto edition in 1648, a duodecimo edition in 1652, and a 32mo edition in 1653, all of which were noted for the number of misprints contained and their excessive price, for which Field was fiercely attacked by those whose trade had been injured by the monopoly given to him and Hills by Cromwell.