Princeton University Library Digital Collections

Gutenberg Bible [fragment]

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Image of Gutenberg Bible [fragment]
Title:
Gutenberg Bible [fragment]
Uniform Title:
Bible. Latin. Vulgate. 1455.
Forms part of:
Scheide Library : Fifteenth-Century Printing (Digital collection)
Publication / Origin:
Mainz : [Johann Gutenberg and Johann Fust], 1455 (not after August August 1456)
Abstract:
A single imperfect paper leaf from the Gutenberg Bible, the first printed Bible. The leaf is vol. II fo. 122 (the 2nd leaf of quire 13), with text of the last verses of Ezekiel 33, all of Ezekiel 34, and beginning verses of Ezekiel 35. The leaf comes from an otherwise lost copy of the Gutenberg Bible. It is one of nineteen such leaves, all belonging to quires 13 and 14 of volume II, that were cut down to a smaller size and pasted together to create pasteboard for some unidentified bookbinding, probably in the sixteenth century. About a dozen copies of the Gutenberg Bible, most of which were printed on vellum, are known only from fragmentary preservation as bookbinding materials. These cut-down paper leaves came to light when the Vienna bookdealers Gilhofer & Ranschburg offered them leaf by leaf in an auction of 3 April 1911. Two other leaves from this group are at the Library of Congress, a third is at Dartmouth College Library, and a fourth is at the State Library of New South Wales in Sydney. The rubrication of the copy is simple, using only red ink.
Size:
1 leaf ; 32.7 × 21 cm.
Language of material:
Latin
Contents:
Text is Ezekiel ch. 34.
Publications that Reference this Resource:
Goff B-526.
GW 4201.
De Ricci, Mayence 34.
Usage rights:
Use and reproduction.
Restrictions on access.