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[Bible, in Latin] BIBLIA LATINA Basel Joh. Amerbach, ed. Anton Koberger 1498

Vol. I complete with the texts of Genesis /Exodus / Leviticus / Numbers / Deuteronomy /Joshua /Juith / Ruth / Regum IIII / Paralipomenon II / Esdre IIII / Tobias / Judith / Hester / Job. Printed in double column in Gothic font, a profusion of large initials with lateral extensions decorated by hand in red and blue and a profusion of smaller letters and initials decorated also by hand in red and blue. There are also: 24 magnificent engraved figures throughout including early reproductions of Noah's Ark, The Sacrificial Alter, The Ten Commandments, The Great Menorah and The Temple of Solomon. The commentary, of significant import, is by Cardinal Hugo di Saint-Chair who was active in the early part of the 13th century and who died in 1262. Folio, ff 464 nn., in a superb contemporary binding of full blindstamped pigskin with clasps, the spine with wide raised bands, the covers blocked beautifully with full Renaissance designs. A wonderfully preserved calligraphic rendering on the inner rear board remains and is dated from 1402. Offset from the original vellum pastedown, this is an inclusion of significant import. 464 folio leaves unnumbered. (signed: a-b8, c6, d8, e6, f-g8, h6, i-k8, l 6, m6, n8, o6, p8, q6, r8, s-t6, v8, x6, y8, z6; A-C8, D6, E-G8, H-L6, M-Z ed aa-vv alternating 8 and 6), complete. A superb copy of this rare book. There is absolutely nothing to complain about. The book is extremely fresh, beautifully preserved, and one conjectures nearly as pristine as could be expected.

A RARE AND BEAUTIFUL PRINTING OF THE ILLUSTRATED KOBERGER LATIN BIBLE. Anton Koberger was for a number of years the leading publisher of his time. The total list of his printings for the forty years from 1473 to 1513, when he died, comprises no less than two-hundred and thirty-six separate works, including fifteen impressions of the Biblia Latina, eight of which presented material differences of notes and commentaries which entitled them to be considered as distinct editions. In the actual number of separate works issued, Koberger was possibly equaled by one or more of his contemporaries, but in respect to literary importance and costliness, and in the beauty and excellence of the typography, the Koberger publications were not equaled by any books of the time excepting the issues of Aldus in Venice (Putnam II, p. 150).
This superb illustrated folio Bible is one of the most beautiful printed by Koberger and is a wonderful example of the magnificent productions made during the first generation of printed Bibles, the state of preservation and the impressive binding making it all the more so. Further volumes of the Bible were not published until 1502. This magnificent example, complete, provides one with the opportunity to have a copy of a great illustrated incunable Bible rarely encountered in the open marketplace.

$US45000

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