Leaf from the Great Bible; First Chronicles. embellished with two engraved letters. Wood cut. Framed. Printed in London. Water damage to upper and lower edges. 15" x 10". Commissioned by King Henry VIII and published by Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop 0f Canterbury, the Great Bible was the first legal English bible. Cranmer chose Miles Coverdale to produce the bible. Coverdale based the version on William Tyndale's translation, filling in the gaps with his own translations. It was called the Great Bible because of its large folio size (14" plus). It was chained to the main pulpit in churches and open for all to read. Several revisions were published from 1539-1541.