1581 Geneva Bible

Printed: London

Measures: 8.6 x 6.5 x 3

The Geneva Bible is one of the most historically significant translations of the Bible into English, preceding the King James Version by 51 years. It was the primary Bible of 16th century English Protestantism and was used by William Shakespeare, Oliver Cromwell, John Knox, John Donne and others. It was one of the Bibles taken to America on the Mayflower (Pilgrim Hall Museum has collected several Bibles of Mayflower passengers), and its frontispiece inspired Franklin's design for the first Great Seal of the United States.

Because the language of the Geneva Bible was more forceful and vigorous, most readers strongly preferred this version to the Great Bible.

During the reign of Queen Mary I of England (1553–1558), because Mary I was Catholic, a number of Protestant scholars fled from England to Geneva, Switzerland, which was then ruled as a republic in which John Calvin and, later, Theodore Beza, provided the primary spiritual a