Description: After 300 years this wonderful old Martin Luther Bible is in extremely good condition and wholly original. The colour of the vellum is slightly paler than the photographs show. I have not tried to clean the covers but they could almost certainly be improved.The vellum binding has a very smooth silky feel; there is some natural cosmetic grubbiness but the binding is very firm with no looseness of either the outside covers or the inside pages.There is no damage to the board faces, board edges, corners, spine or spine ends - except where the metal fasteners were once attached (now missing); the hinges are unbroken.The text block is strong, firm and square with all page edges tinted red.The inside cover bears the signature of the Bible's first owner, Gustaf Ross 1715, ? Norkioping.End papers: there is a small hole in the first front end paper but the next 2 are in good condition; there are 3 further blank end papers at the rear, also in good condition apart from some antique writing (a hymn?) on one side.(photo)Size 6.2" x 3.6" x 2.25" : 15.7cm x 9cm x 5.6cmPp 1095, 312, (5) Background notes:Carl Hildebrand von Canstein (1667 – 1719), Baron Canstein, was a German aristocrat who founded the Canstein Bible Institute in Halle , Brandenburg-Prussia. This was the first modern Bible Society.[Wiki].At the beginning of the text is written, "Diese bibel wird hieselbst in Halle ungebunden fur sechs gute groschen oder einen viertel thaler verfauft iedoch nicht anders als gegen baure bezahlung weggegeben" (tr. "This Bible is sold here in Halle unbound for six good groschen or a quarter of a thaler, but is not given away except for a fee".A later edition states that the first edition was indeed published in 1715 but Allgemeine deutsche biographie mentions a 1713 edition, so please decide for yourself on this point.The title page states that the Foreword is by Hn. Baron Carl. Hildebrands v. Canstein. Publishers details, Halle: To be found in the Wäysenhause, 1715A rare Bible, one for the connoisseur. Please read my feedback and purchase with confidence. Be assured that this item will be underwritten by eBay's Global Shipping for purchasers abroad, and by full insurance cover for Inland postage in the UK.
Price: 1800 GBP
Location: Taunton
End Time: 2025-01-13T19:45:36.000Z
Shipping Cost: 103.98 GBP
Product Images
Item Specifics
Returns Accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Binding: Vellum
Language: German
Special Attributes: Rare
Author: Martin Luther
Publisher: Canstein, Halle, 1715
