BIBLIA AD VETUSTISSIMA EXEMPLARIA Nunc recens castigata. In quibus, præterea quæ subsequens præfatio indicat, capita singula ita versibus distincta sunt, ut numeri præfixi, lectorem non remorentur, & loca quæsita tanquam digito demonstrent de HENTEN, Jean (editor). Henten, Johannes.:

Venetiis, Apud Haeredes Nicolai Bevilaquae, & socios, 1576.. Cum licentia superiorum. FIRST ISSUE 1576, Latin text, FOLIO, approximately 385 x 255 mm, 15 x 10 inches, elaborate engraved architectural title page with vignette of St Jerome and the lion below title (repeated on *4r,) the borders with scroll work and grotesques, the words "Biblia ad vetustissima" zylographic, woodcut pictorially decorated headpieces, large historiated initials, numerous small decorated initials, tailpieces and other decorations, 610 very interesting woodcut illustrations including 42 repetitions (the St Jerome already noted), text printed in 2 columns, Roman letter and small Roman marginalia, pages: [16], 792, 16 of 62, LACKING PAGES 655/656 and INDEX PAGES 17-62 PLUS COLOPHON LEAF, collation: *8, A-Ccc8 (-Ss8), Ddd4, A-D8 (-2nd B-2nd D8), bound in modern dark blue morocco grain leather, raised bands to spine, gilt title and date, 4 new endpaper leaves. Spine darkened and covers unevenly darkened, a touch of rubbing to head of spine and top corners, title page slightly darkened in fore-edge and upper margins, very little pale browning within border, very slight wear to lower half of fore-edge, similar darkening to following 7 leaves, large pale brown damp stain to lower corners of *3-C1 diminishing in size and intensity, tiny worm track in top margin from *4-*7, another from Yy4-Zz6, and in fore-edge margin from Aaa1-to (2nd)A8, no loss of text, a little pale foxing to upper margin, occasional small stains or marks to margins, small light stain on 4 pages, no loss of legibility, small closed tear to lower margin of page 121 with neat old repair, another to page 183 with neat archival tape repair, very few blocks slightly worn, most very sharp and clear, some light brown staining to outer margin of page 230, small dark smudge on 1 woodcut on page 271 with slight loss, text and images mostly very clean. A very good copy of a profusely and well illustrated 16th century Bible. (lacking 1 leaf of OT and 24 leaves of index and the colophon at the end of the volume). According to Mortimer the xylographic title indicates an earlier setting in which the vertical columns are also transposed, and our copy conforms to all her points for the first issue. "The Old Testament blocks measure 55 x 78 mm (2¼" x 3 1/8") extended to column width by ornamental side-strips, with a few larger blocks, 115 x 73 mm, in Exodus and Kings. The New Testament blocks are 55 x 48 mm. The artist of these illustrations worked from various sources, notably the three sets of woodcuts by Hans Holbein, Bernard Salomon, and Pierre Eskrich, introduced at Lyons from 1538 to 1562 and widely used in Bibles and picture books... This Venetian set also has scenes not usually illustrated". Mortimer, Harvard, Italian 16th Century Books, No. 62. Not listed in Darlow and Moule who only list the Louvain Latin Bible of 1547 (6129) on whose text this Venetian printing is based, and the 1572 Junta Venice edition also based on the Louvain version (6157). Darlow and Moule Volume II, Part II. MORE IMAGES ATTACHED TO THIS LISTING. POSTAGE AT COST.