La Sainte Bible, Qui Contient le Vieux et le Nouveau Testament. Edition Nouvelle, Faite sur la Version de Geneve, Revue, & Corrigee; Enrichie, Outre les Anciennes Notes, de Toutes Celles de la Bible Flamande, de la Plus-Part de Celles de M. Diodati, & de Beaucoup d'Autres; De Plusieurs Cartes Curieuses, & de Tables Fort Amples, Pour le Soulagement de Ceux Qui Lisent l'Ecriture Sainte. Le Tout Dispose en Cet Ordre, Par les Soins de Samuel de Marets, Docteur & Premier Professeur en Théologie, en l'Université Provinciale de Groningue & d'Ommelande, & de Henry des Martes Son Fils, Ministre du S. Evangile, en l'Eglife Francoise de Deft. A Amsterdam, Chez Louys & Daniel Elzevir, MDCLXIX. Avec Privilege.
The Holy Bible, Which Contains the Old and New Testament. New Edition, Made from the Geneva Version, Revised and Corrected; Enriched, Beyond the Old Notes, with All Those from the Flemish Bible, Most of Those from Mr. Diodati, and Many Others; With Several Curious Maps, and Very Ample Tables, for the Relief of Those Who Read the Holy Scripture. All Arranged in This Order, by the Care of Samuel de Marets, Doctor and First Professor of Theology, at the Provincial University of Groningen & Ommelande, and Henry des Martes His Son, Minister of the Holy Gospel, in the French Church of Deft. In Amsterdam, At Louys & Daniel Elzevir's, 1669. With Privilege, large folios.
THE STUNNING FIRST EDITION OF THE ELZEVIR PRESS BIBLE, THE MOST MAGNIFICENT BIBLE EVER PRINTED IN FRANCE, AND ONE OF THE MOST MAGNIFICENT PRINTINGS OF THE BIBLE OF ALL TIME. HERE BEAUTIFULLY FINELY BOUND AND IN INCREDIBLE CONDITION!
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THE EDITO PRINCEPS OF THE ELZEVIR BIBLE. One of, if not the, most magnificent printing of the Bible, and certainly the most magnificent printed in France. We have had the usual contenders such as John Baskett's 1717 Vinegar Bible etc for the title of the most magnificent Bible, and this is such an incredible production so as to truly be one of the most incredible obtainable Bibles. It is a significant rarity in commerce, especially in such incredible condition in such beautiful fine bindings.
This edition is very desirable and well attested to by the important bibliographers of the Bible. Bibliotheca Suxessiana calls it "without exception the most splendid French Bible ever printed" with Darlow & Moule writing "The highlight of the Elzevir family is... the French Bible... It is a large folio Bible, very well maintained, with very wide margins and printed in beautiful Roman letters... It's beautiful, with very large maps." Brunet remarks on this edition "très remarquable par sa belle éxecution typographique".
VERY RARE. WorldCat records just a single example held at the University of Manchester, England [OCLC 644103149].
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The Elzevir Press is one of the most famous printing presses, and became famous amongst bibliophiles of the 17th and early 18th centuries who all sought to collect the best examples of their works. The engraved title page for this edition is also particularly remarkable, marrying together the works of the leading engravers of the Dutch Golden Age.
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A comparable example of this Bible, but bound into just one volume rather than two, sold at Christie's 14th Dec 2001 lot 186, realising $7,050 USD, which is approximately $12,600 USD adjusted for inflation.
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Size: 305 x 467 mm (approx., each)
Condition: FINE
[(4), engraved title, t.p., *3-*4, a1-f7, 1ff. (exhortations & table), 1ff., 2ff. (foldout map & exposition), ff.2-65, 2ff. (foldout map & exposition), ff.86-246, 2ff. (foldout map & exposition), ff.247-366, (2)]; [(3), half title, A2, ff.1-162, t.p. (NT), *2, 2ff. (foldout map & exposition), ff.1-67, 2ff. (foldout map & exposition), ff.68-202, half title (Apocrypha), ff.2-70, (3)]
Beautiful full calf bindings, very finely tooled in gilt in compartments between raised bands to the spine as well as to the black tooled morocco labels, as well as the stunning tooled gilt circumscribing the boards in a black leather setting. Very slightly rubbed along the joints, but the bindings are generally in very fine condition. Quite remarkably the page blocks are not sagged in the bindings and so these have most likely been stored laid flat and thus correctly for their sizes. New endpapers bound in, but also preserving the originals. No attached bookplates or ownership inscriptions. The foldout map for the journey of the Israelites is a little ragged at the edges with a very small area of loss in the upper right, but generally remains very good. The other foldout maps are in excellent condition - particularly the map of Jerusalem which is incredible. Mildly toned throughout text blocks as typical but generally as excellent as one could hope for. COLLATED AS COMPLETE, despite a few mispaginations such as fo.161 as fo.191 in volume two. Complete with the four foldout maps and additional folding plan of Jerusalem (5 foldouts). This copy collates as textually complete and with all 5 foldouts as printed. Thus externally very fine, internally near fine to fine, overall a fine copy.
The most excellent obtainable copy of one of the most magnificent Bibles ever printed. Overall in fine condition.
[OCLC 644103149; Darlow & Moule 3761; Willems 1402].
