Identification points are listed only where two independent sources agree. Last reviewed 22 Oct 2026.
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The Geneva Bible was first printed abroad: the New Testament at Geneva in 1557 and the complete Bible, a quarto in roman type, in 1560. It was not printed in England until 1575 (New Testament) and 1576 (complete Bible). The 1576 Bible bears the imprint of Christopher Barker, London, with the title beginning 'The Bible. Translated according to the Ebrew and Greeke'. There was no publisher's binding at this date, so the covers tell you nothing about issue; check the date and imprint on the general title. Barker and his deputies went on to issue many further Geneva editions (library records show 1583 and 1588, for example), so a Barker imprint alone does not make a 1576 copy. Some editions from 1576 onwards carry Laurence Tomson's revised New Testament. Copies dated 1599 were largely printed by Robert Barker between about 1616 and 1625 under a false date, so a '1599' Geneva Bible is a much later printing.
We have not yet confirmed the issue points that tell this first impression from later ones. Until we do, compare your copy's title page and copyright page with the publisher, place and year above: any later printing or edition statement means it is not this one.
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Christopher Barker, London, in 1576, in hardback.
Points of issue are listed only where at least two independent sources agree. Last reviewed 22 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.
Points of issue are small, documented details, such as a misprint later corrected, a binding colour or a jacket price, …
Read the guide →7 min readTo identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
Read the guide →6 min readBook condition grading uses a six-step trade scale: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Collectors grade the …
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