Biblia cum concordantiis veteris et noui tesamenti. Lyon: J. Sacon for Anton Koberger, 17th December 1516, folio.
ONE OF THE FINEST EARLY LATIN BIBLES: ANTON KOBERGER'S 1516 FOLIO - TEXTUALLY COMPLETE, INCLUDING THE BEAUTIFUL WOODCUT ENGRAVINGS!
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VERY RARE. USTC records only 16 copies held institutionally worldwide with NO COPIES HELD IN THE UNITED STATES and only two copies in the UK (Bodleian Library and the National Library of Scotland). A magnificent edition with stunning engraved woodcut illustrations which recall the 1490 Malermi Bible and the 1498 Venice Bible. This example is one of the finest extant, textually complete with all illustrations present, including the often lacking stunning full page woodcut with the six days of creation and the full page woodcut of the Nativity. This edition also includes the very attractive Eusebian canons printed in red and black. Truly a beautiful copy of quite possibly the finest Latin Bible printed up to this time in history in remarkably clean and bright condition. Particularly rare in complete condition, and especially desirable for bearing the name of the famous printer Anton Koberger in the colophon.
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Provenance:
Ink inscription to CC9 in a typical medieval script reading "Celestmoru de Marcoussiaco, 799. 855.", with the 799 scored out, certainly contemporary, likely monastic.
This copy sold at Christie's Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts 2nd June 2008 lot 91, described as being 'disbound', but has clearly been finely bound since that sale. It was described as having been consigned to the auction from an unnamed religious institution, possibly from continuous descent of the above, which would certainly explain the excellent condition of the text block.
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Size: 262 x 356 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[(2), aa8, bb6, a-z8, A-Q6, R5, AA-BB8, CC10, (2)]
Modern full calf (circa 2008), very attractive on the shelf indeed. Both boards are securely attached, some light rubbing to binding. The binding is not overly tight and functions properly as a book should. Black letter text, double column, occasionally printed in red and black in the text itself. Eusebian canons in red and black. Lacks one blank at the end of Revelation (R6), else collates as complete and is thus accurately described as collating as textually complete. CC10 is a blank and is present. Contemporary ink inscription in a very attractive possibly monastic hand in a rather stereotypical medieval script to CC9, reading 'Celestmoru de Marcoussiaco, 799. 855.', with the 799 scored out. Exceptionally clean throughout the text block, some minor dampstaining to a few leaves in the gutter, else generally a fine copy. Some spotting visible to page edges only when fanned out.
[Adams B993; USTC 616595, 144530].
*there are two USTC references for this one edition.
