QUEEN ELIZABETH I (1533-1603) – ספר תהילים. (Sepher Tehilim). [Books of Psalms]. Antwerp: Christopher Plantin, 1581.

Rare Hebrew psalter, with Elizabeth I's heraldic badge. This pocket psalter uses Plantin’s Hebrew type created by French artist Le Bé, which "placed the Netherlands in the front rank of Hebrew typography" (Reed, A History of Old English Letter Foundaries, p. 64). This copy’s binding features the personal badge of Elizabeth I, in distinction to the royal arms or Elizabeth’s royal cypher. "After the death of her mother and her accession to the throne, Queen Elizabeth continued to use the badge of her Mother, the Falcon with Crown and Sceptre, and this, according to Holinshed, was exhibited in a Pageant at Norwich, during her progress in 1578, as 'Her owne badge,' and it remains on the iron railing which surrounds her Monument in Henry the Seventh’s Chapel." (Willement’s Royal Heraldry, p. 82). By tradition, this volume belonged to Elizabeth I, and she did read Hebrew. However a similarly bound work in the British Library indicates that original ownership is not established.

16mo (110 × 77mm). Hebrew type, architectural woodcut title-page border, woodcut headpiece (title-page lightly soiled). Contemporary English calf, ruled in gold and in blind, falcon crest badge of Anne Boleyn later adopted by her daughter Elizabeth tooled in gold on both covers, evidence of two fore-edge ties, final blank used as lower pastedown (light scratches, joints tail of spine chipped). Custom morocco box by Riviere & Son, spine lettered in gold. Provenance: "W.T." (early inscription on title-page) – C. Gray (early inscription on upper pastedown) – Mortimer L. Schiff (1877–1932; leather label).