Details
BIBLE, Latin. [Mainz: Johann Gutenberg and Fust, 1455].
Royal 2o (391 x 284 mm). Single leaf from vol. I, containing IV Esdras 8:12-9:17. 42 lines, double column. Type: 1:140G. One two-line Lombard initial supplied in red, headlines and chapter numbers in alternating red and blue letters, capital strokes in red. Unwatermarked half of sheet. (Some minor marginal finger-soiling.) Tipped-in A Noble Fragment: Being a leaf of the Gutenberg Bible, with a bibliographical essay by A. Edward Newton. New York: Gabriel Wells, 1921. Dark blue morocco gilt, by Stikeman and Co. (extremities lightly rubbed); publisher's board slipcase.
Provenance: Maria Elisabeth Augusta von Sulzbach (1721-1794), wife of Carl Theodore, Electoral Prince of the Palatinate, subsequently Electoral Prince of Bavaria -- Mannheim, Hofbibliothek -- Munich, Royal Library (their duplicate sale, 1832, sold for 350 guilders) -- Robert Curzon, Baron Zouche (1810-1873, and by descent until sold) -- Sotheby's 9 November 1920, lot 70, to Joseph Sabin; sold by him to -- Gabriel Wells, who broke up the copy, dispersing it in single leaves, many of them accompanied by A.Edward Newton's essay, as here, and in larger fragments -- Estelle Doheny (morocco bookplate; purchased from Dawson's Bookshop, Los Angeles; and her inscription presenting the volume to SMS dated 30 June 1936).
BMC I, 17 (IC.55); BSB-Ink. B-408; CIBN B-361; DeRicci/Mayence 53 (=78); GW 4201; Hain *3031; Needham P18; Norman, pp. 253-258; Pr 56; Goff B-526.
Royal 2o (391 x 284 mm). Single leaf from vol. I, containing IV Esdras 8:12-9:17. 42 lines, double column. Type: 1:140G. One two-line Lombard initial supplied in red, headlines and chapter numbers in alternating red and blue letters, capital strokes in red. Unwatermarked half of sheet. (Some minor marginal finger-soiling.) Tipped-in A Noble Fragment: Being a leaf of the Gutenberg Bible, with a bibliographical essay by A. Edward Newton. New York: Gabriel Wells, 1921. Dark blue morocco gilt, by Stikeman and Co. (extremities lightly rubbed); publisher's board slipcase.
Provenance: Maria Elisabeth Augusta von Sulzbach (1721-1794), wife of Carl Theodore, Electoral Prince of the Palatinate, subsequently Electoral Prince of Bavaria -- Mannheim, Hofbibliothek -- Munich, Royal Library (their duplicate sale, 1832, sold for 350 guilders) -- Robert Curzon, Baron Zouche (1810-1873, and by descent until sold) -- Sotheby's 9 November 1920, lot 70, to Joseph Sabin; sold by him to -- Gabriel Wells, who broke up the copy, dispersing it in single leaves, many of them accompanied by A.Edward Newton's essay, as here, and in larger fragments -- Estelle Doheny (morocco bookplate; purchased from Dawson's Bookshop, Los Angeles; and her inscription presenting the volume to SMS dated 30 June 1936).
BMC I, 17 (IC.55); BSB-Ink. B-408; CIBN B-361; DeRicci/Mayence 53 (=78); GW 4201; Hain *3031; Needham P18; Norman, pp. 253-258; Pr 56; Goff B-526.