BIBLIA LATINA Strasbourg, Heinrich Eggestein,... Lot 36

BIBLIA LATINA [Strasbourg, Heinrich Eggestein, not after 24 May 1466]. Two large folio volumes (298 x 402 mm), (497) ff. of which 4 are blank, viz. I : (250) ff. (the last blank) [a-k¹⁰ l-m¹² n-x¹⁰ y-z¹² A¹²], vol. II: (247) ff [B-G¹⁰ H¹² I-L¹⁰ M¹² N¹2-1 (complete) O-T¹⁰ V-X¹² Y-Z¹⁰ aa¹⁰ bb⁸; I10 and bb7-8 blank]. 2 columns, 45 lines, type 1:126G. Period sow's skin on wood aisle, cold-stamped, spine ribbed, remnants of manuscript title-pieces, boards decorated with cold framing and fillet crosses, and fleurons, engraved clasps (partially rebacked). Modern green half-maroquin slipcases, spines titled in gold (lacking corners and central metal ornaments; rare small marginal foxing, fine angular worm gallery on 4 ff. of vol. II.) First edition of Eggestein's Latin Bible, a true monument in the history of printing, published about ten years after the Gutenberg Bible, which served as a model. It is the first work printed by Eggestein, the first printer and typographer in Strasbourg with Johannes Mentelin. After studying at the University of Louvain, Heinrich Eggestein (Rosheim, ca. 1415-20; Strasbourg, after 1483) settled in Strasbourg, where his presence is attested as early as 1438. According to François Ritter (Histoire de l'imprimerie alsacienne aux XVe et XVI e siècles, 1955), Eggestein was hired in 1440 as a seal keeper by bishop Robert. In 1442, he is mentioned in the Helblingzollbuch (register of wine taxes) as a Nachconstofler in Strasbourg at the same time as Gutenberg, who stayed in this city from 1434 to 1444, where he probably carried out his first experiments in printing with movable metal type. It is likely that Eggestein traveled to Mainz in the 1450s to learn the art of printing from Fust and Schoeffer, Gutenberg's successors, although there is no evidence of this stay. Back in Strasbourg, he probably worked with Johannes Mentelin and established his own workshop at least from 1464. His activity as a printer lasted until 1483. His first book, the monumental Latin Bible with 45 lines on two columns, was put on sale in the spring of 1466. The date of printing is established from one of the two copies preserved in Munich, in which the rubricator has indicated "14 May 1466". A fine and rare copy, complete and preserved in its original binding. The first page of each volume is adorned with a large gilt initial painted with wide antennae running along the inner and upper margin with motifs of birds, flowers and acanthus leaves in pink, green and blue ink. The text is rubricated and scattered with numerous puzzled watermarked initials, sometimes with antennas, in blue, green and red ink. PROVENANCE Thomas Brooke F. S. A., Armitage Bridge (armorial bookplate); William Ingham Brooke, Barford Rectory, Warwick, 1908 (manuscript bookplate); C. S. Ascherson; F. S. Ferguson, March 10, 1913 (handwritten note); Paul Hirsch (given by his wife Olga Hirsch in September 1948 from a handwritten note in German); Joost Ritman (bookplate "Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica"). REFERENCES Hain *3037; Goff B530; Pellechet 2274; GDW 4205; ISTC ib00530000.