Latin Biblia.

Biblia.

Basel, Nicolaus Kesler, January 9, 1491

An extremely rare edition, a magnificently illuminated specimen. The first leaf of Genesis, a2, and the first leaf of Matthew, R1, feature a decorative illuminated initial and richly illuminated margins with floral and gilt decorations. The initial of Genesis features a historiated image of Saint Ambrose. Illuminated coats of arms in the lower margin of both leaves; three on the Genesis leaf, one on the Matthew leaf.

This is the second Kesler Bible, a faithful reprint of the October 9, 1487, edition. These editions are notable for including, at the end of the Apocalypse, the section entitled "Translatores Biblie," divided into two parts: the first concerns the ancient versions of the Bible, and the second illustrates the four senses in which Sacred Scripture should be read (literal, allegorical, anagogical, and tropological).

GW 4268; Van der Haegen I: 18,26; Goff B591; HC 3111*; Pell 2331; Buffévent 93; Torchet 167; IDL 855; IGI 1673; IBP 1029; Sajó-Soltész 650; Madsen 687; Voull (B) 529; Hubay (Augsburg) 373; Sack (Freiburg) 645; Borm 477; Finger 197; Mittler-Kind 686; Lökkös (Cat BPU) 92; Sheppard 2482; Pr 7679; BMC III 769; BSB-Ink B-465; Kaufmann-Nabholz 568; ÖNB-Ink B-377; ISTC ib00591000.

Folio. 305x205 mm. Later spotted leather binding over wooden boards, center of both covers with inlaid panel in dark brown morocco with a pierced and gilded ornamental design, later inside covers. 436 not numbered leaves. Text on two columns., 55 lines and titles, gothic type, guide spaces for initial letters. Title on leaf a1 recto ‘Biblia1, blank verso; leaf a2 ‘Prologus in Bibliam’. Colophon at the end of Revelations, leaf 407 verso, ‘Immensas … Nicolai Keslers civis Basiliensi. Anno … Nona ianuarij’. Below the colophon, the printer's device. On the title-page several ancient handwritten notes, on verso ownership note of 18th century: 'Caroli Bocchi, Munus speciosissimum'; others handwritten note on the last leaf. Marginalia and ancient notes on the margins. Heraldic ex-libris of Michael Stoughton on the inside cover; two labels owned by the bookseller Leo S. Olschki. Two leaves with fully illuminated initials and margins; illuminated initials in red and blue, many with floral extensions along the margins.

Defects and restorations to the binding; internally water stains in throughout much of the volume, reinforcement on central fold of some leaves (mostly without loss of text); occasional stains.