Lot n° 132
Estimation :
200 - 300
EUR
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Result
: 1 300EUR
LUTHER (Martin). Betbüchlin, mit dem Calender und Passional, - Lot 132
LUTHER (Martin). Betbüchlin, mit dem Calender und Passional, auffs new corrigiert vnd gemeeret. Gedruckt zuu Augspurg, Durch Valentin Otthmar, 1542. In-8, [22]-263 f., brown calf on contemporary wooden boards, 3-nerved spine, cold-finish decorated boxes, modern title label, cold-finish decoration on covers with figures of virtues in the center, floral roulette and fillets on edges, clasps, tabs (binding solid but cover incomplete; title faded, soiling, f. 75 incomplete with text missing, f. 263 restored with text missing, several paper restorations, several rare ink annotations on f.206 and 250; several small tears in the cover). and 250; tiny wormholes on f.19 to 28, f.147-148, f.146 to 257; wormholes on f.180 to 189 affecting the last 2 lines of text; paper missing in lower margin of f.211; stamp scratched on lower corner of f.99; 4 leaves missing).
Uncommon edition, illustrated with numerous woodcuts including a framed title in red and black, 13 lettrines, 2 vignettes (sun and moon) to the calendar which is in red and black, and 54 [of 58] full-page illustrations (f. 220 (gii), 225 (gvii), 229 (hiii) and 251 (i1) = ill. to r° and text to v° are missing).
OCLC (no. 249217740) locates around 25 copies; curiously, VD16 L 4106 and USTC 616229 consider this book to be lost.
Woodcut Germanic coat-of-arms on lower flyleaf, handwritten with date 1623. Modern pious engraving glued to upper flyleaf.
In addition to his work as a Bible translator, it was important for the reformer to instruct children in the faith. The prayer book contains a calendar, an interpretation of the X commandments and a compilation of important biblical events, illustrated with woodcuts (Passionnelle). It's an illustrated Bible "for the good of children and simple folk" (i.e. adults who don't know Latin), who "are better moved through portraits and parables to retain the divine story", according to Luther in his foreword.
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