[BIBLE IN LATIN]

Biblia integra : summata : distincta : Sup[er]eme[n]data vtriusq[ue] testame[n]ti [con]corda[n]tijs illustrata

      Johann Froben Basel: Johann Froben, 1491. First printed bible in octavo, the so-called "Poor Man's Bible". Short octavo (5 7/8 x 4 3/16 inches; 149 x 106 mm). [493] leaves. Fifty-six lines of gothic type in two- and three-columns. Many pages, especially preliminaries and Hebrew Names, with rubrication. Manuscript three-line capitals in red and in blue throughout, and several much larger initials, most notably on leaf A2r, in red, blue, green, and brown. Early manuscript foliation.#11;#11;Sixteenth century blind-tooled pigskin over beveled wooden boards. Boards with thin-thick-thin borders and pictorial borders rolled in relief, pictorial centerpieces stamped in relief (the year "1554" stamped below the front centerpiece), spine ruled in compartments, four raised bands. Original brass catch-and-clasp fasteners, partially renewed, with new straps. Contemporary manuscript contents ruled in red, written in red and black ink on front pastedown. A few instances of marginalia and notes on the title and rear pastedown in contemporary and near-contemporary hands in red and black ink. A few signatures standing proud. A1 with just a two line title is absent (no doubt left out by the binder) but the two rarely present blanks at the end are present. A few leaves trimmed somewhat close, affecting headlines. Occasional light spotting. Light soiling to boards and wear to board extremities. Overall an excellent copy; clean, fresh and complete in a near-contemporary binding.#11;#11;This is a notably handsome, remarkably well-preserved copy of this important work, the first Bible printed by renowned printer Johann Froben, and also the first Bible ever to be printed in an octavo format. The remarkable pictorial elements of the binding, obscure under direct light, become wonderfully apparent when the binding is viewed at an angle. In this way the images cast shadows, revealing roll patterns featuring the four evangelists on the front board and laurel-wreathed busts of pagan poets on the rear, and two Biblical centerpieces: On the front board is the Sacrifice of Isaac, with the Angel of the Lord staying Abraham's hand; on the rear board, Daniel waits in the lion's den next to one of the big cats while two cherubs hold a wreath above the prophet's head.#11;#11;Bound with the final two blanks, which is not usually the case; in the past thirty years, just one copy has come up for auction with both blanks present (Sotheby's, December 15, 1986, lot 158).#11;#11;This was the first Bible in Latin done for the people. Prior to the publication of Froben's 1491 Biblia integra, printed Bibles tended to be massive folios that were difficult to transport, making them talismanic objects as much as texts, and therefore primarily suited for ecclesiastical use. Because of its relatively diminutive size Froben's Bible became know as the original "Poor Man's Bible", eminently transportable and therefore eminently accessible. Although Froben's Biblia integra was printed in Latin, because of its small size it should rightly be ranked with Martin Luther's 1534 German Bible, and later sixteenth and seventeenth century Bibles translated into other vernacular European languages that made the Bible increasingly accessible to laypeople in early modern Europe.#11;#11;"The earliest edition printed in octavo was printed by Johannes Froben de Hammelburg: Baseileae, 27 June 1491 ... This edition from its small size is known as the first 'poor man's Bible.' It is noteworthy also as being the first book, or one of the first books, issued by Johann Froben, the celebrated printer of Basel, who was intimately connected with Erasmus and other prominent men of the age, and printed many books in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Froben's Latin Bibles were based on the 'Fontibus ex Graecis' editions, and were highly esteemed for their accuracy" (Darlow & Moule).#11;#11;Darlow & Moule 6086. Goff B-592. Hain 664. Polain 664.