Bible. Latin.

Chancery octavo (157 × 106 mm). Collation: [π⁴ (title-page, Froben’s Exhortatio to readers, mnemonic verses, Summarium Biblie);  a-y A-Z⁸ (Old Testament); 1-10⁸ 11^{4 2}11⁸ (New Testament; colophon, ²11/8v); A-E⁸ (Index of Hebrew Names; Translatores Biblie, Modi intelligendi scripturam)]: 493 of 496 leaves, lacking only the blanks a1, E7-8. 2 columns, 56 lines + headline Types 1:86G (titling), 2:62G (side notes), 3:44G (text). Initial spaces with guide letters. Fully rubricated in red and blue (Alternating lombard initials, underlining, capital strokes), the initials of a2r and 4r of red-blue interlock with pen flourishing. Scattered marginal manuscript notes
Nineteenth-century sheep with vertical filleted bands, at front a vellum manuscript bifolium from an earlier binding (liturgical, including Psalms 23-24), spine lacking, covers loose. Slight paper loss on some fore-edges where index tabs were removed. A few of the marginalia just shaved, but a larger than average copy with paper in fresh condition.

Mayer Sulzberger, 1843-1923 (bookplate)

Goff B-592; Hain 3107*; GW 4269; BMC III 789 (IA.38783); BSB-Ink B-466; Bod-inc B-300

Nineteenth-century sheep with vertical filleted bands, at front a vellum manuscript bifolium from an earlier binding (liturgical, including Psalms 23-24), spine lacking, covers loose. Slight paper loss on some fore-edges where index tabs were removed. A few of the marginalia just shaved, but a larger than average copy with paper in fresh condition.
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.

The first Bible printed in octavo format, and the first book signed by Johann Froben, founder of a great printer’s dynasty and friend of Erasmus. The size of Froben’s Bible is that of a large number of thirteenth-century Bibles written in Paris and elsewhere, and Froben may be seen as reviving, in print, a handy, portable Vulgate that could be used as a personal copy. Froben’s exhortatio emphasized the novelty, writing “that in view of its small size it would better be called a mini-Bible than a Bible” (aptius Bibliola quam Biblia dici poterit). To keep the number of leaves in single-volume compass, Froben printed the text with an unusually small but very clear gothic fount, in today’s nomenclature of 7-point size. The octavo format clearly responded to a new market: Froben printed another edition in 1495 (Goff B-598), and there followed three Italian octavo Vulgate editions of 1492, 1496, and 1497, as well as Gershom Soncino’s famous Hebrew Bible, Brescia, 1494 (Goff Heb-10).