Notes and Queries, Number 239, May 27, 1854

A curious blend of literary detective work and historical intrigue, this mid‑nineteenth‑century periodical invites readers into the world of bibliophiles obsessively comparing early English Bibles. The author painstakingly details the quirks of the 1611 folio and its 1613 counterpart—examining mismatched sheets, lingering printing errors, and a striking woodcut of David and Goliath—while posing probing questions about the true extent of revisions and the rarity of complete copies. The discussion hints at a grander vision: a collaborative society to reprint the nation’s foundational translations, from Coverdale to the Authorized Version, in a uniform, affordable series.

Interwoven with the scholarly debate is a surprising glimpse into personal history: the transcribed marriage licence of the medieval poet John Gower, rescued from a Winchester archive. This document, presented as a “curious” relic, adds a human dimension to the scholarly pursuits, reminding listeners that the lives behind the texts are as compelling as the printed words themselves.