Bible. New Testament. Greek and Latin

folio (295 x 192mm.), parallel text in Greek and Latin, woodcut printer's device on title-page and another beneath colophon, woodcut initials and headpieces (printed in red on a1), A1 and t6 with elaborate woodcut borders, early nineteenth-century English straight-grained purple morocco with gilt fillet design on covers, spine elaborately gilt in compartments, gilt dentelles and board edges, gilt edges, morocco hinges, striped endbands, title-page slightly soiled and supplied from another copy, aaa2 lacking and supplied in typographic facsimile, ink stain on aaa4, other light staining (particularly at end), small wormhole at foot of first eight quires, small stain on Ee1v obscuring a few letters, last leaf laid down, binding slightly rubbed

A.G. Hunter, Blackness (Lothian), inscription on title-page, i.e. Alexander Gibson Hunter (1771-1812), sale of his books, Ballantyne, Edinburgh, 1813, lot 2003 ("splendidly bound in morocco"); Law Society, armorial bookplate

Darlow & Moule 4591

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."

First edition of Erasmus's New Instrument, and the earliest publication of the New Testament in Greek, printed after but published before the Complutensian Polyglot (see lot 15); Erasmus and Froben rushed the work through the press in order to publish before Brocar could. It was reprinted in 1518-19 (see lot 19) with many of the errors corrected, though this original Greek text was used by Luther for his version which perpetuated the errors.

Erasmus included a new version of the Latin text, taken from the Greek rather than the using the traditional and acceptable Vulgate, which led to Erasmus being vilified for questioning the authority of the Vulgate.