Bible, Leaves of the Bible, Füst and Schoeffer; Early Pri...

1462 FÜST & SCHOEFFER BIBLE. AN ESSAY BY EBERHARD KOENIG. INTRODUCTION BY CHRISTOPHER DE HAMEL. WITH AN ORIGINAL LEAF FROM THE 1462 BIBLE. [THE FIRST DATED BIBLE].

      (Mainz: Fust and Schoeffer, 1462; (Essay) Akron: Bruce Ferrini; Evanston: Hamill & Barker, 1993.) 2volumes handsomely bound and housed within a fine and matching foldover case. A leaf from the first dated Bible, the Fourth printed Bible (preceded only by: Gutenberg, the 36-line Bible and Mentelin). Using a new type face; type set on a smaller body with more lines to the page. Printed double column, 48 lines per page. With manuscript titles in red and blue, large red and blue chapter numbers and beautiful large extended initials red and brown or red and blue each with fine pen work extending over 20 lines One Folio leaf (405 x 300 mm), beautifully bound and presented--the leaf within a foldover case of richly textured cloth with designed label on the upper cover, the text in a handsome binding of morocco over boards, the upper cover with designed printed label; the two volumes housed in a fine matching foldover case with printed label on the upper cover. A superb leaf from Chronicles XXII - XXVI in which David in his old age, makes Solomon king and gathers together all the princes of Israel and the priests and the Levites. A very beautiful copy in pristine condition, the handsome leaf, clean and extremely well preserved. A RARE AND IMPORTANT LEAF FROM THE 1462 BIBLE. For all intents and purposes, the earliest obtainable printed Bible leaves after those of the Gutenberg Bible - and these, at a fraction of the cost.