Bibliotheca Brookeriana: A Renaissance Library Part V

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 1029. [Bible. Prophets. Hebrew] Prophetae priores. Josue, Judicum liber, Samuel. Regum II [Hebrew], Paris, 1544, contemporary Parisian polychrome binding.

[Bible. Prophets. Hebrew] Prophetae priores. Josue, Judicum liber, Samuel. Regum II [Hebrew], Paris, 1544, contemporary Parisian polychrome binding

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December 10, 04:10 PM GMT

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BIBLE. OLD TESTAMENT. PROPHETS. HEBREW. [Hebrew title:] Prophetae priores. Iosue, Iudicum liber, Samuel, Regum II. Paris: Robert Estienne, 1544

The last volume printed of Estienne's quarto format Hebrew Old Testament, published by him in fifteen parts in 1539-1544, his first major undertaking in his capacity as Royal Printer in Hebrew. An important Parisian binding, one of the earliest of a small group of bindings with grotesque heads on the covers. G.D. Hobson suggested that this fashion began in the earlier 1550s, but the present example may well be earlier. The watermark of the endleaves, a Catherine Wheel, is very close to Briquet 13411, recorded by him 1544-1546; and the few tools used on the covers plausibly date to the mid-1540s. One pair is close but apparently not identical to H.M. Nixon, Bookbindings from the Library of Jean Grolier, 1965, de Picques tools 25a-b.

The first leaf of Hebrew text (signed [capital] A2) contains the start of Genesis rather than the start of the book of Joshua (which should be signed [lower case] a2). The headline on the verso of this leaf incorrectly states Joshua.

4to (255 x 168 mm). Hebrew letter, 20 lines plus headline. collation: a-3r⁴: 252 leaves (final leaf blank). Title-page with woodcut printer's device, fine arabesque woodcut headpiece cartouches, ruled in red.

binding: Contemporary Parisian calf, gilt and polychromed in white, green, and black, with gougework interlace and grotesque heads, edges gilt and gauffered, housed in modern brown morocco folding case. (Hinges slightly cracked, and some spine wear, enameling chipped in places).

provenance: William Henry Corfield (1843-1903), his sale, Sotheby's, 21-23 November 1904, lot 296 (illustrated), bought by B.F. Stevens for £40 — Mortimer Leo Schiff (1877-1931), by descent to — John Mortimer Schiff (1904-1987), his sale, Sotheby's New York, 11 December 1990, lot 40. acquisition: Purchased at the preceding sale. references: BP16 111518; USTC 153808; Renouard, Estienne 54; binding: G.D. Hobson, Bindings in Cambridge Libraries, 1929, pp. 86-87, no. I on his list of Grotesque Head bindings