Biblia Germanica. v.1

Item Information

Title:
Biblia Germanica. v.1
Title (alt.):
Title commonly referred to as: Koberger Bible
Title (uniform):
Bible
Description:
This, the so-called Ninth German Bible, was printed in Nuremberg in 1483 by Anton Koberger. Also commonly referred to as the Koberger Bible, it was issued in three versions: one with the 109 woodcuts uncolored, one with the woodcuts hand-colored, and one "deluxe" version with the woodcuts more elaborately colored, the first large initials in each volume illuminated, and with the creation scene on the fifth leaf of the first volume both hand-colored and illuminated. The wood blocks used to print the illustrations in the Koberger Bible were taken directly from the Bibles printed in Cologne by Heinrich Quentell in 1478 and 1479.
Printer:
Koberger, Anton, approximately 1440-1513
Date:
[February 17, 1483]
Format:
Books
Genre:
Woodcuts
Illuminations
Bookplates
Ink stamps
Black letter types
Bevelled edge boards
Vellum bindings
Royal folios
Incunabula
Location:
Boston Public Library
Rare Books Department
Collection (local):
Incunabula (Collection of Distinction)
Places:
Bavaria > Nuremberg
Extent:
1 v. : ill. ; 40 cm (fol.)
Permalink:
https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/bc386m89p
Terms of Use:
No known copyright restrictions.
No known restrictions on use.
Restrictions:
Access to physical copy/copies by appointment only. Please contact Boston Public Library Rare Books and Manuscripts Department for further information.
Publisher:
[Nuremberg] : [Anton Koberger]
Language:
German
Latin
Notes:
Title supplied from BM 15th cent.
Imprint statement derived from colophon (leaf CCCCCLXXXIII verso): ... Gedruckt durch anthonium koburger in der löblichen keyserlichen reychstat Nürenberg. Nach der geburt cristi des gesetzs der genaden. vierzehen hundert und in dem dreyundachtzigstè iar. am montag nach Invocavit. Vm̀ wellich volbriigung. sey lob. glori. und ere. der hohen heylige dryualtigkeit. uǹ eynigem wesen. dem vater uǹ dem sun unnd dem heyligen geyst. der da lebt unnd regiret gott ewigklich amen.
Notes (ownership):
PROVENANCE: Boston Public Library (Rare Books Department) copy Q.401.4 FOLIO with BPL ink stamp in lower right corner of each woodcut. Acquired in April, 1907.
Notes (date):
This date is inferred.
Notes (citation):
ISTC ib00632000
BM 15th cent., II, 424 (IC7283)
Goff, B-632
Notes (object):
Signatures: [1⁴ 2-4⁸ 5⁶ 6-37⁸ 38⁶; 39-72⁸ 73-75⁶] ([39]₆, [40]₁, and [75]₆=blank; all leaves unsigned)
Royal folio; printed in double columns, [1]₃ recto: 50 lines plus headline, 301 (315) x 188 mm; types: 162 (headlines and headings), 120 (text); 109 woodcuts from 108 blocks.
Foliation: (vol. 1) I-CCXCV, [1] ; (vol. 2) [1], CCXCVI-CCCCCLXXXIII, [1].
Errors in foliation: LXI, CXXVIII, CXLII, CCLII, CCCXXVII, CCCCXL and CCCCLXVII misnumbered XLI, CXXIX, CXLIIII, CCLI, CCCXXII, CCCCLX and CCCCLXVIII respectively.
COPY NOTE: Boston Public Library (Rare Books Department) copy Q.401.4 FOLIO imperfect: [39]₆, [40]₁, and [75]₆ (all blank) wanting. Leaves CCXLVI, CCCCCLXXVII, CCCCCLXXVIIII, CCCCCLXXXII, and CCCCCLXXXIII wanting and replaced in facsimile. Damage to many leaves, with old repairs throughout. Belongs to the most highly embellished of the three issues: woodcuts hand-colored, with creation scene in volume 1, along with several large initials, illuminated. Three-line initials rubricated in red and blue throughout, with six- to eight-line initials in varied combinations of red, blue, green, and purple. Leaf dimensions: 388 x 276 mm. Another copy cataloged separately under call no. Q.401.4a FOLIO (vol. 1 only, hand-colored but not illuminated).
BINDING: Boston Public Library (Rare Books Department) copy Q.401.4 FOLIO bound in modern brown calfskin. Spine title stamped in gilt. Housed in a tan cloth box. Prior to conservation in 2018, bound in modern vellum over beveled laminate boards, with bookplate of the BPL Billings Fund on front pastedown of each volume.
Identifier:
Q-401-4-FOL_0001 - Q-401-4-FOL_0596
Call #:
RARE BKS Q.401.4 FOLIO v.1
Barcode:
39999085273272