Johanne Froben

1514 Johanne Froben Latin Bible: "Biblia, Cum Peno Apparatu Summariorum Concordantiarum et Quadruplici.

      Johanne Froben, Basel, Switzerland 1514 - Title: Bible, Latin: "Biblia, cum pleno apparatu summariorum concordantiarum et quadruplici repertori." Publisher: Johanne Froben, Basel. Froben was a historic Renaissance printer who also printed numerous works of Erasmus, including Erasmus' 1519 Novum Testamentum, which became the basis for Martin Luther's translation of the Bible into German for the common people of his culture. Year: 1514 Edition: Masterpiece work of typography; post-incunabula. Size: 9 x 13.5" (Folio) Collation: 14 leaves + 351 leaves + 28 leaves forming 986 pages. Complete. Binding: Original pigskin binding, large repair to front cover, clasps missing, but all intact. Inscriptions: A few instances of antique handwriting occur; no apparent family history Description/Contents: Pages printed on heavy paper with dark ink, accented with woodcut engravings (see below). Title with verso beginning small section of introductory notes. Three sections of tables follow. "Tabula alphabetica historiarum" follows the Tables. Followed by General Divisions of the Bible. Scriptural text follows, with prologues to each book. Apocryphal books are included but not grouped together (interspersed with Old Testament Books). Leaves (e.g., not pages) are numbed (Fo. 1, etc.) throughout the text of Scripture, but not the pre- or post- Scriptural text materials. Last numbered leaf is 351, which is then followed by a brief index and what appears to be Interpretation of Hebrew Names, numerous leaves, but apparently complete. Other features of this Bible include some printed marginal references and a several page chart between the Old and New Testaments, each titled "Canon" with successive numbers 1-10. Engravings: Decorative and illustrative woodcut border on title leaf. Initial decorative woodcut letters appear to open each book. Additional woodcut, depicting someone reading the Hebrew Bible in the temple, adds visual interest to this Bible. This woodcut also has decorative accents borders to each side. Condition: Binding of text block generally secure; one weakened spot noted behind the third table, but no leaves are detached. A number of leaves have small wormholes, but these are generally found in the margins where present. Some do cover text, and result in the loss of a few letters, but not severe. Occasional colored pencil notes, modern, but not extensive. Occasional small spots found at a brief perusal (foxing, smudging, soiling, staining) but most pages are generally clean and white. Last few leaves have brown staining, covering but not obscuring all text. Additional Reference: British Library: General Reference Collection; 3020.f.6. [Attributes: Hard Cover]