Bible. Latin

part 4 only (of 4), Median folio (346 x 225mm.), 351 leaves (of 352, without initial blank), a-z aa-xx⁸, double column, 71 lines of commentary plus headline, 3- to 5-line initials in red with printed guides, 2- to 6-line initial spaces, strictly contemporary Cambridge binding by the Unicorn Binder, blind-tooled calf over wooden boards, covers tooled to a diaper pattern with small unicorn, dragon and flower stamps, some edges uncut, in modern brown buckram folding box, with a note about the repairs by the Cockerell Bindery dated 1986, early annotations, b4v-5r soiled, binding rebacked and repaired at foredge, lacking both clasps

Sr Thomas Gardiner, seventeenth-century inscription on first leaf (possibly the barrister, 1591-1652); Presented by the executor of the late Life Dacre Esq, University College Oxford [?to the] Law Society, armorial bookplate and ink stamps

Goff B618; HC 3170; BMC ii 436; Bod-inc B-323; GW 4293

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This is one of four editions of the Bible with the literal commentary of Nicolaus de Lyra printed by Koberger between 1485 and 1497.

Over seventy bindings by the prolific Unicorn Binder are now recorded. He was active in Cambridge from the mid-1480s to just after 1500. For an almost identical binding, with the same unicorn and dragon stamps, see BL Add. Ms. 28783 (illustrated in G.D. Hobson, English Binding before 1500, 1929, plate 48), dated to c. 1490-1500, and a binding now in Cambridge University Library (Inc. 3.F.2.2, illustrated in Hobson, Bindings in Cambridge Libraries, 1929, plate XIV), dated to c. 1490; Hobson also notes that the Unicorn Binder lined his boards with vellum, which is indeed the case here. The tools are illustrated on plate XI of Oldham, English Blind-stamped Bindings (1952), nos 48, 50, 54, 63, 64 and 73.