25th Mar, 2025 10:00
The March Auctions 2025: Asian Art, Ceramics, Books & Manuscripts
Leaf of the Gutenberg Bible, Mainz, c.1455
Leaf of the Gutenberg Bible, Mainz, c.1455
[Gutenberg, Johannes (d. 1468)] Biblia Latina [Mainz: Johannes Gutenberg and Johann Fust, c.1455]
An incunabulum leaf of the Gutenberg Bible, "the first substantial book to be printed with moveable type in the Western world" (PMM)
This leaf from Numbers partial 8:13 - partial 10:23 [The setting apart of the Levites, The Passover, The Cloud above the Tabernacle]
Folio (39.2cm x 28.6 cm). One leaf, 42 lines, double column, Gothic type. Lombard initials in red and blue. Gothic title letters NU and MERI alternating in red and blue
With several loose pages [cut margins] of an essay by Newton (A. Edward) A Noble fragment being a leaf from the Gutenberg Bible 1450-1455, New York: Gabriel Wells, 1921. incunabula
Provenance:Whilst the presence in this lot of the extract of the essay by Newton (which was included with each sale and presented with the leaf in a goatskin portfolio folder) does not provide a firm provenance of the current leaf being one of the Wells leaves, it does add credence to the potential of this provenance.
Gabriel Wells (1861–1946) was one of the most important antiquarian booksellers in America and Britain in the first half of the twentieth century. One of the most significant transactions of Wells' career was his purchase of a Gutenberg Bible from Joseph Sabin, who had bought it at auction in 1920. Wells opted to break up the Bible (which was not overall in perfect condition and to sell the leaves individually, thus reaching a wider market. The leaves in good condition sold for an average of $150 each while the ruined leaves were priced around $100.
Footnote:Leaf from the first substantial European printed book produced under the temporary partnership of Johann Gutenberg, inventor of European typography, and Johann Fust, a well-off Mainz lawyer. Production of the edition of more than 640 leaves presumably took several years and a team of workmen. The humanist Aeneas Sylvius, Latin secretary of Emperor Fredrick III, saw sample sheets of the Bible at the Imperial diet in Frankfurt am Main, in late October or early November 1454, and again at Wiener Neustatt in March 1455, from where he wrote about the amazing production to his friend Cardinal Carvajal in Rome. Copies were printed in separate issues of paper and vellum, in a total edition of 180 copies, and were widely distributed.
Fourty-nine copies (or substantial portions of copies) have survived. They are thought to be among the world's most valuable books, although no complete copy has been sold since 1978
References
500th Anniversary Pictorial Census n. 128; Formatting the Word of God 2.1
Goff B-526; GW 4201; BMC I 17 (IC.55); BSB-Ink B-408; Bod-inc B-237. Censuses: De Ricci Mayence 34.53=78; Schwenke 37; Needham P18; Folter 45
Chorley's bi-annual auction of Fine Books, Maps and Manuscripts includes a wide variety of works including a page from the Gutenberg bible.
Leaf of the Gutenberg Bible, Mainz, c.1455
[Gutenberg, Johannes (d. 1468)] Biblia Latina [Mainz: Johannes Gutenberg and Johann Fust, c.1455]
An incunabulum leaf of the Gutenberg Bible, "the first substantial book to be printed with moveable type in the Western world" (PMM)
This leaf from Numbers partial 8:13 - partial 10:23 [The setting apart of the Levites, The Passover, The Cloud above the Tabernacle]
Folio (39.2cm x 28.6 cm). One leaf, 42 lines, double column, Gothic type. Lombard initials in red and blue. Gothic title letters NU and MERI alternating in red and blue
With several loose pages [cut margins] of an essay by Newton (A. Edward) A Noble fragment being a leaf from the Gutenberg Bible 1450-1455, New York: Gabriel Wells, 1921. incunabula
Whilst the presence in this lot of the extract of the essay by Newton (which was included with each sale and presented with the leaf in a goatskin portfolio folder) does not provide a firm provenance of the current leaf being one of the Wells leaves, it does add credence to the potential of this provenance.
Gabriel Wells (1861–1946) was one of the most important antiquarian booksellers in America and Britain in the first half of the twentieth century. One of the most significant transactions of Wells' career was his purchase of a Gutenberg Bible from Joseph Sabin, who had bought it at auction in 1920. Wells opted to break up the Bible (which was not overall in perfect condition and to sell the leaves individually, thus reaching a wider market. The leaves in good condition sold for an average of $150 each while the ruined leaves were priced around $100.
Leaf from the first substantial European printed book produced under the temporary partnership of Johann Gutenberg, inventor of European typography, and Johann Fust, a well-off Mainz lawyer. Production of the edition of more than 640 leaves presumably took several years and a team of workmen. The humanist Aeneas Sylvius, Latin secretary of Emperor Fredrick III, saw sample sheets of the Bible at the Imperial diet in Frankfurt am Main, in late October or early November 1454, and again at Wiener Neustatt in March 1455, from where he wrote about the amazing production to his friend Cardinal Carvajal in Rome. Copies were printed in separate issues of paper and vellum, in a total edition of 180 copies, and were widely distributed.
Fourty-nine copies (or substantial portions of copies) have survived. They are thought to be among the world's most valuable books, although no complete copy has been sold since 1978
References
500th Anniversary Pictorial Census n. 128; Formatting the Word of God 2.1
Goff B-526; GW 4201; BMC I 17 (IC.55); BSB-Ink B-408; Bod-inc B-237. Censuses: De Ricci Mayence 34.53=78; Schwenke 37; Needham P18; Folter 45
Fine Books & Manuscripts
Chorley's bi-annual auction of Fine Books, Maps and Manuscripts includes a wide variety of works including a page from the Gutenberg bible.
Leaf toned and foxed with fold to centre with a little fold wear. A little red stain from the page edge colouring onto leaf at centre outer edge. Some marginal browning and chipping. inked '9' to inner margin, inner margin with paper strip backing. No visible watermarks. Very slight loss to upper corner.
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Auction: The March Auctions 2025: Asian Art, Ceramics, Books & Manuscripts, 25th Mar, 2025
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