Rare 15th Century Folio Manuscript German Bible in Latin

-Old testament Genesis to Esther-

-Bound in a c1400-1425 Viennese binding

-Folio (40 x 28cm)

-258 pages on paper with Dreiberg (triplemount) watermark

-47 lines in Black Gothica textualis

-Text likely third quarter of the 15th Century

Folio Bibles played a significant role in 15th-century Germany and across Europe, particularly within monasteries and other religious institutions. Compared to printed incunable Bibles, manuscript Bibles from this period are rare on the market. The rise of the printing press marked a turning point, as printed books were not only more accurate but also far less expensive to produce, leading to the decline of manuscript Bible production.

Despite their importance, 15th-century manuscript Bibles remain an understudied area—an issue highlighted in the 2021 Lyell Lectures at the Bodleian Library. As a group, these manuscripts vary considerably in size and textual content. They are notably scarcer than their printed incunable counterparts, of which several thousand survive, and even rarer than the more standardized 13th-century Parisian manuscript Bibles, of which several hundred are known.

Decoration:

Decorated with large drop cap initials up to 22 lines at the start of each book of the Bible in blue with red filigree decoration. Rubricated throughout at chapter beginnings and to titles . Further filigree decorations to lettering in black and red ink.

Text:

The text from Genesis to Esther is complete (20 chapters including the apocrypha of Esdras, Tobit, Judith and the completion of Esther). The text also contains Jerome's Prologues (Letter to Paulinus, Prologues to the Pentateuch, Joshua, Samuel (Kings 1), Paralipomenon, Ezra & Judith). One page is missing from the start of the Prologue to the Pentateuch as the Bible starts at chapter 5 of the Letter to Paulinus.  At the end of the volume, the Book of Job has no prologue and is a fragment only with chapters 8-15,31-37 and 40-42. There is misnumbering to the rubrication of some chapters in Chronicles 1 (but no missing text). The Bible is 1 volume of likely 2 when originally written (if ever completed).

Paper:

The paper is watermarked with a Dreiberg with cross. Dreiberg 4 x 3.5cm with cross 4.5cm above (total 4 x 8cm).  The watermark does not match any in known databases, but the “Dreiberg” was common in 15th Century papermills around the Alps in Southern Germany and Italy

Binding:

The binding is a fine example of an early 15th Century binding. This binding is decorated with a rosette and Ox head and is likely from the “Ochsenkopf workshop” – one of earliest Viennese book binding workshops of c1400-1425. The binding has all 10 brass bosses and 2 keys. The clasps and title plate are missing and there is old worming to the binding, repair to spine, and only one brass rail remaining.

The binding is likely an old remboitage at some stage and it is slightly smaller than the text with slight prominence of the text block by a few millimetres at the upper edge. An ownership inscription on the front cover “Hc Vetus testat p coventu fri camelita Weysperg tinte” – likely the Carmelite monastery in Weißenburg suggests its provenance.

Condition:

Lacking opening page of Jerome’s Prologues and several pages to Book of Job. Significant water staining starting at the middle of the volume (Samuel 1) to the right upper corner this becomes more significant in the upper right from Kings 3 and is significant from Chronicles 2 to the end. There is significant damage and tears to the last few leaves (Book of Job) with some paper cut out without loss of text. Otherwise very good condition to paper in the first half of the volume. Binding missing clasps and with repair to spine (remboitage). Would benefit from professional conservation.

Provenance:

The Bible is Southern German with a likely provenance of the Carmelite Monastery of Weißenburg (manuscript to binding).

With German Export License

Further description on request

£50,000