1567 Biblia Sacra (latin, Holy Bible), printed by Huchin for Frellon. Rare. Gauffered edges, woodcuts, maps, etc..

The most interesting 16th century bible I've had. I love the faded gauffered edges, in an early style. In addition, there are a number of engravings, maps, charts, prologues, indices, etc..

Rare, the OCLC records only two copies; one at the Universitatsbibliothek Heidelberg (OCLC #315584645), and a second copy at Columbia University (#83326666). A third copy is available with another vendor at a higher cost.

Although the title page, preface, and colophon have been withdrawn, I've collated the rest of the work and the Bible is complete.

There are 34 woodcuts, including one delightful full-page illustration of Ezekiel's vision.

There are eight foldouts; five maps (p1,44,62,400,457) and three charts (p399,421,441). In addition, there are a handful of other extra plates of chronology, prologue and etc. that far exceed the additional plate counts in the other known copies making verification of completeness of the non-numbered pages difficult. My favorite extra is a single column, narrow prologue between 252 and 253 (see pictures). The extra plates are contemporary, the 1st plate Chronologia is dated 1566, causing a previous owner to think the entire book was printed in 1566, as noted in manuscript on the front endpaper.

There are three places where the pages skip numbers (343, 443 & 468), but the signatures have 8 leaves at all three places, and the other copy for sale has the same page numbering issues leaving it to printer's error.

Physical Attributes -

Measures 17.5 x 12 x 5 cm. Calf, repaired spine. Four raised bands to spine, title in gilt on red Morrocan. Gauffered edges. Two-color endbands. 34 woodcuts. 5 maps. 3 charts. A number of tipped in prologues, indices, etc..

Pages - (2) Chronologia leaf, 499, [23], (1) with additional scattered un-numbered extra leaves. When compared to the other copies it is missing a title page and preface of 7 leaves (it begins Genesis 1) and the colophon (printer's mark) at the rear, all other pages are present; but it has a handful of tipped-in pages not numbered and not noted in the other copies. Page signatures - a8-z8, aa8-zz8, A8-S8, T1-T2

Condition -

See pictures. Spine/joints/hinge renewed; a nice job, well matched with original boards. Some shelf wear, age to original boards. Bottom of 1st blank endpaper (flyleaf) has been removed, same page has writing at top. Small corner loss of 1st printed page "Chronologia" and 1st map (next page). Fore-edge proud (sticks out a little) to page 32. No title page. Marginal annotations, occasional textual marks including strikethroughs, intermittent water mark (more present near ends). Ink dot top margin pages 315 to 340. Map at 457 missing its bottom that would have folded out. Missing colophon. Although the title page, and colophon have been withdrawn, I've went through the other pages and (despite a few printer's numbering errors) the Bible is complete. Although 450 years old, still entirely readable and the re-spine eliminated any structural problems; strong book that will last hundreds of years more with care.