Lefèvre d'Étaples, Jacques.

folio (300 x 200mm.), title within woodcut border depicting the symbols of the Evangelists, portraits of four Church Fathers and the Apostles, woodcut initials, woodcut illustrations, woodcut printer's device on final verso, contemporary half blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards, two clasps, later morocco lettering-piece, a few light stains, a few wormholes (particularly towards the end and in lower board), straps replaced

Christophorus Hos, I.V.D., armorial bookplate (slightly torn), with inscription underneath "Emptus Norimberge Anno 1524"; Bequeathed to the Bishopric of Cornwall by the Rev. Franke Parker, M.A., Rector of Luffincott, Devon, 1883, bookplate

Christopher Hos (1495-1558/59), from Baden, studied law at Heidelberg and became Procurator in 1522, although he was later removed from office because of his Protestantism. He is known to have been an acquaintance of Ulrich von Hutten and three versions of his armorial bookplate are recorded. It is most interesting to find a note of acquisition so close to the date of publication and below the bookplate there is a inscription by Hos which he later covered with his bookplate.

Adams B1811

Lefèvre's commentary on the Gospels was first printed in 1522 in Paris and by the following year had been condemned by the Sorbonne for its reformist leanings. Lefèvre was working along the same lines as Erasmus in trying to correct the errors in the Vulgate through close reference to the Greek text.