Bible. Greek.

Estimate

30,000 - 40,000 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

Panta ta kat'exochn kaloumena Biblia qeiaV dhladh grafhV palaiaV te, kai neaV. Sacrae Scripturae veteris, novaeque omnia. (Venice): Aldus, (February 1518)

folio (322 x 211mm.), 448 leaves (with blank leaves aaaa4, dddd10 and hhhqqq9), title-page and headings printed in red, 3-line initial spaces with printed guides, woodcut Aldine device on title-page and final verso, woodcut initials and headpieces, nearly all printed in red, contemporary blind-tooled calf over wooden boards, two clasps, metal corners, holes from chaining staple at head of lower cover, title-leaf slightly soiled, red show-through on gghh2, rebacked and repaired, lacking both straps

Provenance

Bibliotheque Tongeil (?), early inscription on title-page; Franke Parker, inscription on title-page dated 29 April 1865; Bequeathed to the Bishopric of Cornwall by the Rev. Franke Parker, M.A., Rector of Luffincott, Devon, 1883, bookplate

Literature

Darlow & Moule 4594; Delaveau & Hillard 90; Censimento 16 CNCE 61055; Renouard 1518/8; Texas 156; UCLA 142

Catalogue Note

editio princeps of the complete bible in greek. The Complutensian Polyglot was printed earlier, but was only available for sale after this edition appeared on the market (see lot 22). Erasmus's edition of the New Testament in Greek had been published shortly before this, in 1516 (see lot 31), and was used for this edition - the New Testament is dedicated to Erasmus. The Hesychian recension of the Septuagint was used for the text of the Old Testament.