FIRST EDITION OF THE LOUVAIN BIBLE – 1547

Biblia ad Vetustissima exemplaria nunc recens castigata….Louvanii, 1547. The first edition of the Latin Vulgate published after the Council of Trent declared it the authentic Version of the Catholic Church in 1546. Magnificent full leather blind tooled binding over raised bands in period style with expertly antiqued finish. Complete copy with all preliminary and terminal leaves and original blank between testaments. Provenance: Franciscan Convent at Louvain with their stamp on title. Remargining to a few preliminary and terminal leaves. Slight loss of text on final leaf with repair. Water staining to preliminary leaves and light browning throughout text. Candlewax stain approx 1 sq. in. affecting 4 leaves in Leviticus. A beautiful copy of one of the most historically significant Catholic Bibles with great provenance. $13,500.

THE ORIGINAL COMPLUTENSIAN POLYGLOT - 1517 Volume 4: The Prophets, complete. Quarta Pars Veteris Testamenti Hebraico Grecoque Idiomatenunc Primum Impressa: adiuncta Utrique Sua Latina Interpretatione, 1517. The first of the great Polyglot Bibles that led the way to the critical Biblical research of the 16th century. Sumptuously printed in three columns with Hebrew, Greek and Latin characters. Complete including title with Cardinal Ximenes de Cisneros’ seal printed in red. This is the fourth of six volumes in the complete set and includes Isaias through III Machabees. Full leather binding with possibly original blind tooled leather over wooden boards and later spine over raised bands. Leather loss at extremities. Title frayed at edges. Otherwise a clean, crisp copy with wide margins ruled in red throughout. Beautiful woodcut initials throughout text.SOLD.

AMERICA'S 1st AND ONLY FOLIO CATHOLIC BIBLE - 1825 The Holy Bible Translated from the Latin Vulgate.Douay.Rheims.Eugene Cummiskey, Philadelphia, 1825. Two large folio volumes in original full red morocco with gilt trim. Front hinge on Vol I has about 2 inches of separation at the bottom and there is fraying of the headcaps of Vol. II.
Some loss of leather at corners. General title beginning to separate at the top for about 2 inches. No Vol II title is called for. Collates complete including 3 ½ foot foldout section at rear of second volume. Browning and foxing throughout. Neat, gilt stamped red leather ownership plates in each volume. An attractively bound copy of an important early American Catholic Bible. SOLD.

OFFICIAL VATICAN EDITION

Biblia Sacra Vulgatae Editionis Sixti V. ROMAE. Ex Typographia Vaticana. MDXCVIII. (1598).  Important early edition of the Latin Vulgate.  This is the official edition of the Bible for the CatholicChurch. The first two editions in 1592 and 1593 had printing errors.  This third edition has a special section with the corrections for each edition.  Beautiful copy. Full leather binding apparently original, worn, brass clasps present but straps missing, and marginal repairs.  Engraved title remargined with remains of removed ink stains.  A little foxing but generally clean throughout.  Attractive copy.  $2,750.

BEAUTIFUL ILUSTRATED EDITION

The New Testament….Translated from the Latin Vulgate….Illuminated after Original Drawings by W. H. Hewett Esq…..Hewett & Spooner, New York, 1850.  First edition.   Large octavo edition with spectacular illustrations including ornate borders around each page.  In this unusual edition, the Epistles were revised in light of early Greek texts by Msgr. James McMahon, Pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church in New York.  Original leather front cover and ornate gilt tooled spine laid over new matching cloth.  Family pages filled in; about 4 inches of the frontispiece (family page on recto) torn off.  Otherwise a beautiful copy of this little known scarce edition.  $350.

SCARCE HARDBACK EDITION

The Rheims New Testament with extended commentary.  This is a hardback edition with attractive purple cover with ornate stamping on front.  Slight losses to stamping in a few places.  Some soiling to fore-edges.  Interior near mint.  Large quarto.  $125.