Biblia, das ist, die gantze Schrifft, Altes vnd Neues Testaments teutsch, d. Martin Luthers: auff gnädige verordnung dess durchleuchtigen, hochgebornen fürsten vnd Herrn, Herrn Ernsts, hertzogen zu Sachsen [...]. Nürnberg: Cristoph und Paul Endtern, 1662, large folio.
THE EXCEPTIONALLY RARE FOURTH EDITION OF MARTIN LUTHER'S WEIMAR ELECTORS' BIBLE, SUMPTUOUSLY ILLUSTRATED WITH VERY FINE MAPS, PORTRAITS, AND ENGRAVED TITLES.
-------------------
The Elector Bible is a German language folio-sized, edition of the Martin Luther translation authorised by Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha and printed by Wolfgang Endterin in Nuremberg, Germany from 164 1to 1758. The earliest known edition to have survived to this day is the Detmold edition printed in 1649. There were 14 editions of this Bible, of which the fourth, here, is one of the greatest, rarest, and most desirable. All of the early editions are scarce. Other names for this Bible are The Weimar Bible and The Ernestine Bible.
The first edition of this edition was printed in 1641 and had no dedication, no copies of this edition are known to survive. The second edition was printed starting in 1649 had an engraved portrait of Queen Christina of Sweden included with a 4 page dedication. The third edition was printed starting in 1652 also was dedicated to Queen Christina of Sweden. The fourth edition, as here, was printed starting in 1662 after Christina’s conversion to Catholicism. This action made it inappropriate to have her portrait in this Luther Bible and it was therefore replaced with a portrait of Ernst of Saxony. This edition is one of the finest productions of the Bible, with stunning fine engraved maps, portraits, and divisional titles. Here presented in a very attractive fine binding, finely rebacked.
This is a very rare edition in acceptable condition. Here is a remarkably well preserved copy, collated as complete.
-------------------
Size: 275 x 423 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[(²), t.p., frontis., 1ff., a¹-b⁶, c⁴, d⁶-k⁸, A¹-5A⁸, a¹-2x³, (⁴)]
18th century full morocco, finely rebacked (in calf) preserving the 18th century boards. Very attractive indeed with fine gilt tooling in compartments between raised bands to the spine. Boards a little rubbed but generally in excellent order. Blanks are replacements contemporaneous to the rebacking, some earlier blanks (18th century) are present to the rear. No attached bookplates. Boards are securely attached and the binding functions properly as a book should.
Collates as complete. The various portraits etc are not mentioned in the collation for brevity. There are 12 full page engraved portraits in the preliminaries, 5 full page engraved portraits through the main text, 4 large bifold maps, a very large foldout plate at the rear, and another bifold plate with ships, and 3 finely engraved title pages (main, apocrypha, and NT). Main title and first portrait laid down on contemporary paper. Note that WorldCat erroneously describes this as the 5th edition but it is correct in Panzer and BSC as being the 4th edition. Exceptionally clean throughout the full text block. A fine copy.
