Title: Biblia Insignium Historiarum Simulachris, cum venustati, tum veritati accomodis illustrate, 1542. First Gryphius Edition. Illustrated with Woodcuts by Hans Holbein and Sebald Beham
Author: Catholic Church
Publisher: Paris, Excudebat Fran. Gryphius
Condition: Very Good
An extremely scarce mid 16th century edition of Biblia Insignium Historiarum Simulachris, being the first Gryphius edition of the complete bible.
The Bible is beautifully illustrated with woodcuts throughout with 166 column-width and seven slightly smaller woodcut illustrations after Hans Holbein and Sebald Beham. The first three Old Testament cuts are based on Holbein blocks common to the Dance of Death and Icones sets, while the remainder derive from a series by Hans Sebald Beham. The Apocalypse cuts in the New Testament are based on Holbein while the others, completed in 1539, are relatively independent of earlier sets.
Most of the title page is lacking, with photocopies of the verso and recto supplied and bound in.
USTC records 10 copies of this edition libraries.
One finely bound volume in quarto, (8)+553+(23) leaves
This volume is in very good shape, with minimal rubbing or wear to the binding. There is minor worming affecting the second half of the volume, and very little foxing or staining.