[GUTENBERG, Johannes (d. 1468).] Biblia Latina. [Mainz: Johannes Gutenberg and Johann Fust, c.1455.]

A leaf of the Gutenberg Bible, "the first substantial book to be printed with moveable type in the western world" (PMM).
This leaf contains text from the third book of Esdras, 4:13-5:14, including the conclusion of the famous debate before King Darius and the beginning of the return from exile. Zerubbabel argues before King Darius that women are more powerful than kings or wine because all men, including kings, are born of women and often sacrifice wealth, reason, and loyalty for them. He then declares that Truth is greater than all, since it endures forever and cannot be overcome. Winning the contest, Zerubbabel uses his reward to obtain Darius's support for the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple, leading into the account of the Jews' return from exile. It is likely from the Mannheim-Munich copy acquired by Gabriel Wells and dispersed by him in single leaves (many, but not all, bound with the essay "A Noble Fragment").

"Johann Gutenberg of Mainz, Germany, brought together many technologies already in existence to develop a method for reproducing texts … a key piece of equipment which did not exist was the adjustable mold, necessary for casting letters of different widths. The device was new, invented by Gutenberg … the result was so successful that his first large work, the 42-line Bible, has long been considered one of the most beautiful books ever printed" (Kelly). Needham P48; De Ricci 15b; Schwenke 14; Hain *3031; Goff B-526; Chalmers Disbound and Dispersed p. 15; Jerry Kelly, One Hundred Books Famous in Typography 1; PMM 1.

Folio (390 x 285mm). One leaf. 42 lines, double column, Gothic type. 2-line Lombard initial in red, headlines in alternating red and blue, chapter number in blue, capital strokes in red (lightly toned, a little soiling). Tipped in: NEWTON, A. Edward. A Noble Fragment being a Leaf from the Gutenberg Bible. New York: Gabriel Wells, 1921. Folio. Dark blue morocco by Stikeman and Co., stamped in gilt.

Mannheim, Court Library (moved in 1777 to:)
Munich, Royal Library (their duplicate sale, 1832, sold for 350 guilders)
Robert Curzon, 1810-1870, 14th Baron Zouche (from 1870, by descent to:)
Mary Cecil Curzon Frankland, 1877-1965, 17th Baroness Zouche (from 1917, sold via Sotheby’s, 9 November 1920, lot 70, to:)
Frank Sabin (sold by him to:)
Gabriel Wells, who broke the volume into single leaves and some complete Bible books