BIBLIA, Das ist: Die gantze Heilige Schrifft Altes und Neues Testaments. Verdeutscht von ... Martin Luther: Und auf ... Verordnung ... Ernsts, Herzogen zu Sachsen ... von etlichen reinen Theologen ... erkläret ... Von neuem mit Fleiss übersehen ... und ... vermehret. 2 parts in 1 vol.

Nuremberg, J. A. Endter, 1720. With engr. illus. title, 12 full-page engr. portraits by J. C. Claussner, 9 plates with portraits of biblical figures, 4 double-page maps with fine baroque cartouches and illustrations, 2 double-page plans, 21 engr. pictorial titles and plates (some double-page and folding), several woodcut initials and vignettes. 2 cols. Printed title in red and black; 67 unn. leaves, 664 pp.; 904 pp., 8 unn. leaves. Large folio. Contemporary calf in the style of Swedish gilt leather bindings, richly gold-tooled in a panel design with flowers and ornaments, flower tool in center and corners of frames, both covers lettered each with 2 Bible quotations, spine on raised bands with richly gilt rococo ornamentation in compartments, 2 brass clasps (new ties), goffered edges, marbled end- papers, all edges gilt (slightly restored). Nuremberg, J. A. Endter, 1720. A beautiful example of the so-called "Kurfürsten Bible", also called "Weimar Bible" or "Ernestinian Bible", Present here is a copy of the 12th edition, this Bible appeared until 1768. Its first printing, commissioned by Duke Ernest the Pious of Saxe-Weimar, was in 1641. Editors were Johann Gerhard (1582-1637), theologian at Jena, and his successor Salomon Glassius (1593-1656), a.o. It was the most popular German Bible of its time, using Luther's text of 1545 and including the Apocrypha. There is a glossary, and each chapter is accompanied by texts from S. Glassius' "Biblisches Handbüchlein" meant as a help for the lay reader. A detailed history of the conception and printing of this epochal Bible is given in the preliminaries. This edition contains a wealth of pictorial matter, the title showing Moses and Christ to the left and right of the pillars of a temple, which bears the coat of arms of the Duke. It is followed by the portraits of the Saxon electors with their coats of arms, and Martin Luther: some engravings include small views, More than 30 full-page plates show biblical characters like Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and the 4 evangelists, Noah's ark, 2 plans of Jerusalem, 4 maps, 1 folding plate showing camps of the Israelites. 18 plates serve as titles to various books of the Bible, with scenes from the following contents in 12 small compartments. The last illustration is the double-page picture of the presentation of the Augsburg Confession to Charles V (1530), the full text of which is included. - Slight browning or foxing in parts, some wormholes and tears repaired. Fine copy in a rare, nice binding, engravings in dark impressions. - Bibelsammlung Stuttgart E 1198; Jahn 79ff.; cf. Graesse I, 379; this edition not in Darlow/Moule, Lüthi, etc. BIBLES ; KURFÜRSTENBIBEL ; RELIGION / THEOLOGY ; ILLUSTRATED BOOKS (BEFORE 1900) ;