Mainz, 1472

BIBLE, in Latin. [New Testament.] Mainz: Peter Schoeffer, 23 February 1472.

A lovely and wide-margined illuminated New Testament printed by Peter Schoeffer, with distinguished provenance. Apprenticed to Gutenberg and partnered with Fust, Schoeffer was the wunderkind of European printing’s infancy. He pioneered the use of printer’s devices, dated colophons, and printing with colored inks. His large and handsome 1472 Bible, of which the complete New Testament is preserved in this fragment, was meant for use on a lectern. Dibdin comments on its “almost perfect resemblance, in every respect, to its precursor of 1462”—a book about which he writes that “the perfection of its workmanship is universally acknowledged.” This copy, with its sparkling illumination, is formerly of the libraries of William Roscue and Henry Yates Thompson. BSB-Ink B-415; GW 4211; Bod-inc B-246; ISTC ib00536000; Dibdin Spenceriana 13.

One volume (of two), folio (415 x 279mm). 97 leaves [of 239, New Testament only]. Two columns, 48 lines each. Large initial B within partial floriated border on first leaf, 5 larger illuminated initials and 53 smaller painted initials with decoration; many small capitals in red and blue, running headlines in alternating red and blue letters; headers printed in red except on ff. 58 and 91, where they are written in contemporary red ink (a few small marginal repaired chips and tears, occasional unobtrusive spots and stains, especially at ends; marks in some outside margins which may be remains of old index tabs). 19th-century dark blue morocco gilt (hinges tender, a little light wear at extremities); slipcase. Provenance: William Roscoe (1753-1831, English abolitionist and parliamentarian; his sale, Winstanley, Liverpool, August 19, 1816, lot 564; sold to:) – William Ford (1771-1832; English bookdealer, note on flyleaf) – Joseph Brooks Yates (1780-1855, English slave trader, note on bookplate, by descent to:) – Henry Yates Thompson (1838-1928, English newspaper mogul and book collector; morocco book label, his sale, Sotheby’s 1921, lot 76, sold to:) – James Tregaskis (d. 1953, English bookseller; receipt laid in, sold to:) – W. V. Kellen, Esq. (book collector, by descent to current owner).