Dutch Bible is a Featured Book with a Royal connection
- 23 December 2024
- 1 minute
A Dutch Bible is the termly Featured Book, chosen by the Library of Gonville & 91ֱ College to showcase historic collections.
Biblia, dat is De gantsche H. Schrifture : vervattende alle de canonycke boecken des Oude en des Niewen Testaments (Amsterdam: Gedruckt by de Weduwe wulen Paulus van Ravesteyn, anno 1662) was chosen by College Librarian, Mark Statham.
“This handsome Bible has a noteworthy provenance,” Mark writes.
Records show it was once owned by King William III, who was joint sovereign with his wife, Mary II, until her death in 1694. William was Stadtholder (leader) of the United Provinces of the Netherlands (1672–1702).
On the Library pages of the College website, Mark details the further fascinating history of the book, which has a golden-coloured decorative fore edge, depicting the expulsion, by a sword-bearing angel, of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden.
The full series of Featured Books are on the Library pages of the website, as are the Library’s Online exhibitions.
