Lot 22
  • 22

New Testament in Greek

Estimate
2,500 - 3,500 USD
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Description

  • [Greek title: TÊS KAINÊS DIATHÊKÊS HAPANTA] Nouum Testamentum. Ex Bibliotheca regia. Paris: Robert Estienne, 7 November 1546
  • ink,paper,leather
Sextodecimo (115 × 73 mm). Greek and Roman types, woodcut initials and headpieces, printer’s devices. Collation: a-z A-K8 (Gospels, Acts), aa-zz8. (Pauline and Catholic Epistles, Apocalypse): 448 leaves, errata list on zz5v, zz6r colophon, zz6v olive-tree device, zz7-8 blank. Seventeenth-century goatskin, oval wreath centerpiece stamp, edges gilt with modest gauffering; red-ruled.

Provenance

JLR (?) 1620 (ink monogram on title-page; a shelfmark R n LXIX written on the upper edge)

Literature

Darlow & Moule 4616; Adams B1656

Condition

Sextodecimo (115 × 73 mm). Greek and Roman types, woodcut initials and headpieces, printer's devices. Collation: a-z A-K8 (Gospels, Acts), aa-zz8. (Pauline and Catholic Epistles, Apocalypse): 448 leaves, errata list on zz5v, zz6r colophon, zz6v olive-tree device, zz7-8 blank. Seventeenth-century goatskin, oval wreath centerpiece stamp, edges gilt with modest gauffering; red-ruled.
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Catalogue Note

First Estienne edition (and first miniature-format edition) of the Greek New Testament. It was the first use of the second font of the “Grecs du Roy”, subsidized by Francis I, and engraved by Claude Garamont after the letter designs of the royal Greek calligrapher Angelos Vergetios. Estienne’s preface, beginning “O mirificam”, praises Francis for commissioning a font for Greek printing in small format.