Beschreibung:

BIBLE, German -- Biblia, das ist gantze heilige Schrifft, Deudsch D. Mart. Luth. Translated by Martin Luther. Wittenberg: heirs of Hans Krafft, 1572.
BIBLE, German -- Biblia, das ist gantze heilige Schrifft, Deudsch D. Mart. Luth. Translated by Martin Luther. Wittenberg: heirs of Hans Krafft, 1572. Volume one (of 2, comprising the Old Testament), 2 o (384 x 202 mm). Gothic type. Title printed in red and black within wide woodcut border of Biblical scenes by Hans Brosamer large woodcut portrait of Augustus, Elector of Saxony, full-page woodcut of the Creation of Eve and the expulsion from the garden by Hans Beham, dated 1550; 149 woodcut illustrations (each roughly 112 x 156mm.) by Johann Teufel and others, THE WOODCUTS FINELY COLORED IN A CONTEMPORARY HAND, ALL WITHIN BURNISHED GOLD FRAMES. Numerous floral woodcut capitals, also handcolored. Contemporary Saxon blind- and gold-tooled calf over wooden boards, concentric panels of floral rolls inclosing the date ("1574"); upper cover with central crucifixion scene in gilt, back cover with scene of Christ bearing the cross, brass cornerpieces and clasps, edges elaborately gilt and gauffered. (Spine chipped, small hole in leather of upper cover, one clasp lacking). Provenance : Sophia Gräfin und Frau zu Barby (subsequently Barby-Mühlingen), (1579-1630) second daughter of Albrecht VII of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt ("1599 ABCDEF Sophia gräfinn Unndt Fraw zu barbÿ" -- i.e. Sophia Gräfin und Frau zu Barby, inscription on pastedown) -- Acquired from Lathrop C. Harper, 1976. Richly hand-colored copy of the extensively illustrated edition of Johann Teufel, the final version of Luther's translation. Darlow & Moule 4205 (note on p. 496); Schmidt Luther Bibel 23; VD-16 B-2778 (both volumes).