![BIBLE, in French -- Le premier [second] volume de la bible en francois. Paris: Antoine Bonnemere, 24 October 1537-1538.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/1998/CKS/1998_CKS_05974_0035_000(104441).jpg?w=1)
Details
BIBLE, in French -- Le premier [second] volume de la bible en francois. Paris: Antoine Bonnemere, 24 October 1537-1538.
2° (339 x 213mm). Bâtarde type. 51 lines and headline, double column. 231 woodcuts (many repeats), the majority one set (97x52mm) usually flanked by border pieces, plus 2 dedication cuts, 7 small cuts (50x40mm), 4 column-width cuts, and 14 in finer style in different sizes, each book of the Gospels opened with cuts and 4-part border, one piece signed FR 1529, woodcut ornamental and criblé initials from several sets. (Occasional wormhole touching a few letters, some light dampstaining.) Contemporary French pigskin over wooden boards, panelled with heads-in-medallion and other rolls, retaining clear, strong impressions, two brass fore-edge clasps, red edges, vellum MS strengthening at hinges, modern endpapers (expertly rebacked in calf, catch-leather renewed, a few other discreet repairs).
As the editor states in his introduction, this translation of the Bible into French was made, not for clerics, but the laity and simple religious and for those not as literate as they should be. Bonnemere reprinted Regnault's edition of 1529, and uses some of his woodcut material from that edition, supplemented by blocks from Books of Hours published by Simon Vostre. Not in Darlow & Moule. Adams B-1129; Chambers, Bibliography of French Bibles, 71. BH1537-38bon.
2° (339 x 213mm). Bâtarde type. 51 lines and headline, double column. 231 woodcuts (many repeats), the majority one set (97x52mm) usually flanked by border pieces, plus 2 dedication cuts, 7 small cuts (50x40mm), 4 column-width cuts, and 14 in finer style in different sizes, each book of the Gospels opened with cuts and 4-part border, one piece signed FR 1529, woodcut ornamental and criblé initials from several sets. (Occasional wormhole touching a few letters, some light dampstaining.) Contemporary French pigskin over wooden boards, panelled with heads-in-medallion and other rolls, retaining clear, strong impressions, two brass fore-edge clasps, red edges, vellum MS strengthening at hinges, modern endpapers (expertly rebacked in calf, catch-leather renewed, a few other discreet repairs).
As the editor states in his introduction, this translation of the Bible into French was made, not for clerics, but the laity and simple religious and for those not as literate as they should be. Bonnemere reprinted Regnault's edition of 1529, and uses some of his woodcut material from that edition, supplemented by blocks from Books of Hours published by Simon Vostre. Not in Darlow & Moule. Adams B-1129; Chambers, Bibliography of French Bibles, 71. BH1537-38bon.