Bible. Greek

folio (312 x 207mm.), title-page and headings printed in red, 3-line initial spaces with printed guides, woodcut Aldine device on title-page and final verso (otherwise blank), woodcut initials and headpieces, nearly all printed in red, nineteenth-century calf, marbled endpapers and edges, spine tooled in gilt and blind, without the three blank leaves, slight dampstaining in first few leaves, cγ1_8 slightly foxed, small repair at foot of bβ3, binding rubbed, both joints very weak

early inscriptions on title-page (partly obscured); D. Bernardinus Bergaingue gave this book to a library, Antwerp, 1590

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

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."

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 15). Erasmus's edition of the New Testament in Greek had been published shortly before this, in 1516 (see lot 16); indeed, Erasmus was planning to ask Aldus to print it, though he heard of Aldus's death while on his way to Italy at the end of 1515. Erasmus's text was utilised for this edition - the New Testament is dedicated to Erasmus himself - and the Hesychian recension of the Septuagint was the basis for the text of the Old Testament.

Although Aldus himself had died three years before the appearance of this edition, he would certainly have been involved with the inception and preparation of this work. In the late 1490s he had also considered producing a polyglot Bible, of which a trial leaf survives in the Bibliothèque nationale de France.