Lot 38
  • 38

Bible in Latin

Estimate
5,000 - 7,000 USD
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Description

Nuremberg: Anton Koberger, 30 July (3 Kal. Augusti) 1477



Royal folio (16 × 11 1/4 in.; 408 × 285 mm). Types 3:110G, 4:160G. Double column, 51 lines. Initial spaces, but printed chapter numbers; Eusebian canon numbers printed marginally in the Gospels. Collation: [112 2–2210 23–246; 25–3610 37–386; 39–4110 42–438; 44–4810; 496]: 466 (of 468 leaves), lacking fo. 1 blank, and fo. 12, with portions of Genesis. Text Units: quires 1–24 = fos. 1–234 (Genesis-Psalms); quires 25–38 = fos. 235–366 (Proverbs-2 Maccabees); quires 39–43 = fos. 367–412 (Gospels); quires 44–48 = fos. 413–462 (Pauline Epistles-Apocalypse); quire 49 = fos. 463–468 (tract of Menardus, Eusebian canon table), rubricated with alternating red and green lombard initials (the Exodus initial green with red flourishing), red capital strokes and underlining, headlines in brown ink (Psalms with headline "Dauid"), scattered early manuscript annotations, and partial contemporary manuscript foliation; the first leaf torn at inner margin, light damp staining at margins of early leaves, some worming, mostly outside the text, other scattered spots and stains, overall a fresh, unpressed and large copy, many leaves with deckle edges. Contemporary blind-stamped calf over unbevelled wooden boards, the surface quite worn, perhaps an Augsburg binding, edges plain, two brass catchplates; rebacked in reversed leather, and endleaves renewed, loose in the binding is an original parchment pastedown with very faded manuscript text, apparently a document.



Bound with: Interpretationes nominum Hebraicorum [Nuremberg: Johann Sensenschmidt, 1476–1477]. Types 4:99G, 6:150G. Double column, 58 lines. Collation: [1–48 510]: 42 leaves, fo. 1 blank. Rubricated uniformly with Bible. Polain 647A, cf. GW 4221; this copy in the variant noted by GW, omitting the final words "Deo gratias."

Provenance

Bamberg, Jesuit College (1763) — John C. Beck, M.D., of Cincinnati, Ohio, and his daughter Bertie ("Presented to my daughter Bertie Beck at her request in 1883, by J. C. Beck, MD," and other inscriptions; a loose leaf of notes on the genealogy of the Beck family laid in).

Literature

Goff B-552; Hain 3065*; GW 4227; BMC II 414 (IC.7159); BSB-Ink. B-425; Bod-inc. B-261. GW's statement that some copies have printed headlines is incorrect, as noted by CIBN B-261.

Condition

Nuremberg: Anton Koberger, 30 July (3 Kal. Augusti) 1477 Royal folio (16 × 11 1/4 in.; 408 × 285 mm). Types 3:110G, 4:160G. Double column, 51 lines. Initial spaces, but printed chapter numbers; Eusebian canon numbers printed marginally in the Gospels. Collation: [112 2–2210 23–246; 25–3610 37–386; 39–4110 42–438; 44–4810; 496]: 466 (of 468 leaves), lacking fo. 1 blank, and fo. 12, with portions of Genesis. Text Units: quires 1–24 = fos. 1–234 (Genesis-Psalms); quires 25–38 = fos. 235–366 (Proverbs-2 Maccabees); quires 39–43 = fos. 367–412 (Gospels); quires 44–48 = fos. 413–462 (Pauline Epistles-Apocalypse); quire 49 = fos. 463–468 (tract of Menardus, Eusebian canon table), rubricated with alternating red and green lombard initials (the Exodus initial green with red flourishing), red capital strokes and underlining, headlines in brown ink (Psalms with headline "Dauid"), scattered early manuscript annotations, and partial contemporary manuscript foliation; the first leaf torn at inner margin, light damp staining at margins of early leaves, some worming, mostly outside the text, other scattered spots and stains, overall a fresh, unpressed and large copy, many leaves with deckle edges. Contemporary blind-stamped calf over unbevelled wooden boards, the surface quite worn, perhaps an Augsburg binding, edges plain, two brass catchplates; rebacked in reversed leather, and endleaves renewed, loose in the binding is an original parchment pastedown with very faded manuscript text, apparently a document. Bound with: Interpretationes nominum Hebraicorum [Nuremberg: Johann Sensenschmidt, 1476–1477]. Types 4:99G, 6:150G. Double column, 58 lines. Collation: [1–48 510]: 42 leaves, fo. 1 blank. Rubricated uniformly with Bible. Polain 647A, cf. GW 4221; this copy in the variant noted by GW, omitting the final words "Deo gratias."
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Catalogue Note

The second Vulgate Bible printed by Koberger, set page for page from the Basel edition of Bernhard Richel, not after 1474 (Goff B-537). The Interpretationes nominum Hebraicorum bound at the end of this copy is treated by GW 4221 as part of the Latin Bible [Nuremberg: Johann Sensenschmidt and Andreas Frisner], 1476, but this is incorrect. It was a separate publication by Sensenschmidt, perhaps partly at the costs of Koberger, with a distinct distribution history. The great majority of copies of the 1476 Sensenschmidt Latin Bible lack it, whereas a considerable number of copies of Koberger's five editions of the Latin Bible, 1477 to 1480, include it. Yet other copies of the Interpretationes are found in Sammelband with miscellaneous Royal folio religious texts printed in Nuremberg, Cologne, Augsburg, Strassburg, and Basel.