ILLUSTR. POST INCUNABLE – KOBERGER BIBLE 1521! WOODCUTS

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Biblia cum concordantiis veteris et novi testamenti et sacrorum canonum - Koberger Post incunable from 1521 UNIQUE AND RICHLY ILLUSTRATED KOBERGER BIBLE IN AN EXTREMELY RARE POST INCUNABLE EDITION!! 139 WONDERFUL WOODCUTS BY PUPILS OF ALBRECHT DÜRER!! ALL IN COLOURFUL CONTEMPORARY COLORATION!! HUNDREDS OF HAND-COLOURED ORNATE INITIALS AND BORDERS!! Title: Biblia cum concordantiis veteris et novi testamenti et sacrorum canonum: necnon et additionibus in marginibus varietatis diversorum textuum ac etiam canonibus antiquis quattuor evangeliorum ; novissime autem addite sunt concordantie ex viginti libris Josephi de antiquitatibus et bello iudaico excerpte. Place of Printing / Printer / Year: Lyon, Jacques Sacon for Anton Koberger [Koburger, Nuremberg], 24 July, 1521 (NUC NBi 0013208; Darlow-Moule 6101) Format: Folio (14.8 in x 10.4 in) Collation: CCCXVII (= 317) ll. Binding / Condition: Restored 18th century calf binding with four raised bands. The spine has been renewed in later times and was provided with a red, gilt-stamped label. The binding is in good condition. The material of the covers is rough due to old age and thus evenly rubbed. The edges and corners are slightly bumped. The spine is a little kinked, the tail has two tears (middle and joint). The front hinge is cracked, the binding, however, firm and stable. The copy lacks the unnumbered leaves at the beginning (14 ll.): 4 “tabulae” of the books and chapters, “exhortatio” (encouragement to repent) as well as some untitled notes on “translatores”, “modi intelligendi scripturam” (ways to understand the Scripture) and “Divisio totius biblie” (division of the whole Bible). The actual bible text of 317 leaves with the beautiful illustrations is complete! The paper is slightly darkened and has rare, single stains. Two small defects on the first folio have been repaired, however, without affecting text or image. T are scattered small wormholes on the inside, strongly decreasing from folio 25 onwards. A beautiful amorial bookplate (Francis Law Latham) was pasted to the inside of the front board. The many-coloured contemporary colorations are all strong and in good condition. All in all, a markedly well preserved copy of this rare and wonderful post-incunabula bible. Price references: Another, uncoloured (!), copy of this edition is currently offered by D&E Lake in Toronto, Canada for the price of $ 7215 (approx. 5300 €). Description, contents and further information: One of the last Latin Bibles before the revolutionary “September Testament”, the first printed translation of the New Testament by Martin Luther (September 1522). The Vulgate bible at hand belongs to a series of editions printed by Jacques Sacon in Lyon for the famous printer and publisher Anton Koberger from Nuremberg. The first edition of this series was finished in 1512, followed by several slightly different versions in the following years. The edition at hand is identical to the one printed by Jean Marion (also from Lyon), for Koberger in 1520. The text was edited and annotated by Alberto Castellano (1450?-1523?), the historical annotations were made by the jurist Johannes de Gradibus (15th century). The outstanding feature of the bible are the numerous wonderful woodcut illustrations, which all have contemporary colorations. Among the 139 works of art are 136 smaller ones (mostly 85 x 65 mm, some smaller) and 3 large illustrations (half page and larger). The woodcuts were made by no one one less than Hans Springklee (c. 1490 – c. 1540) and Erhard Schön (1491-1592), who were both pupils of Albrecht Durer. It is thus not surprising that the woodcuts included in the book at hand remind the viewer of the illustrations in Hartmann Schedel's famous Nuremberg Chronicle, which Koberger printed in 1493 and which Durer was very likely to have been involved in. The 136 (!) wonderful text woodcuts of smaller size (some repeated) show mostly scenes from the Old and New Testament and distinguish themselves through much loving attention to detail and liveliness. Some of the illustrations als... read more

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