Calvin's French Bible

[French Bible. Olivétan-Calvin Version].
La Bible, qui est toute la saincte escriture, en laquelle sont contenuz, le vieil testament & le nouveau, translatez en Francois,& reveuz:
le vieil selon l’Ebrieu, & le nouveau selon le Grec.
[Geneva: Jehan Girard], 1546. (BRB0162)

The 1546 French Bible translated by Pierre Robert Olivétan (c. 1506–1538) and revised by Jean Calvin (1509–1564) was listed in the Sorbonne’s catalogue of censured books in 1551. Bridwell Library’s copy is a rare variant issued for surreptitious circulation in France. Its title page omits the place of publication and the name of the printer, and Calvin’s name is excluded from his preface. These omissions were considered prudent for copies intended for use within France, although Calvin’s name did accompany a separate note to the reader in the New Testament. This variant, one of four known copies, is the only recorded copy in the United States of either issue of Calvin’s 1546 revision.