Lutheran Bible - Biblia, Das ist: Die gantze Heilige Schrift, Altes und Neues Testaments. Verteutscht von Herrn Doctor Martin Luther. Dabey über die gewöhnliche, mit Fleiß verbessertte Biblische Register,. Zu End ist auch. die unveränderte Augspurgische Confession mit beygedruckt worden Martin Luther (translator)

A BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED NEARLY 300-YEAR-OLD MARTIN LUTHER GERMAN CROWN FOLIO BIBLE. COMPLETE IN ORNATELY BLIND STAMPED CONTEMPORARY FULL PIGSKIN WITH ORIGINAL BRASS & LEATHER STRAPS AND BLANK FLYLEAVES. STRIKING HAND-PAINTED WATERCOLOR FLORAL PATTERNED PASTEDOWNS. Two volumes bound together. Bible: The entire Holy Scripture, Old and New Testaments. Translated into German by Dr. Martin Luther. In addition to the usual, diligently improved biblical index, the unaltered Augsburg Confession has also been printed. OVERALL CONDITION: VERY GOOD, COMPLETE ***NOTE: Endter published two Lutheran Bible folios in 1736 in Nuremberg. This is the higher quality, extra illustrated, larger and much longer edition. Martin Luther crown folio published in 1736 in Nuremberg, Germany by the heirs of Johann Andrea Endter. In German. OT and NT with the Apocrypha. In contemporary 18th century ornately blind stamped full pigskin over wood boards. Spine with six raised bands. Original and functional brass hardware and leather straps (quite scarce to find intact!). All edges stained a rich reddish brown. Lovely watercolor painted endpapers with a floral motif. Secondary copper engraved title page and a letterpress title page. Bible text is in double columns with each column's text separately bordered in black. Numerous woodcut head- and tail-pieces and decorated initials. Hundreds of individual copper engravings and all 50 copper engraved plates as called for: (1) Frederick II (2) Ernst Salomon Cyprian (3) 11 Electors (4) Martin Luther (2) 13 inter-title plates comprised of 11 separate vignettes (2) 5 plates comprised of 12 separate vignettes (3) 10 portrait plates (4) 2 double page plates (5) 6 double-page maps and plans (*) Bonus plate of the Tree of Heretics from another book Heavy crown folio, 17.75" x 12.5" x 6" thick. Collated and complete: [148], 740, 512, 480, [16]. There are seven extra pages which accompany the added Tree of Heretics plate at the rear. Collation details: -3 original blanks and title pages, - [148] Dedication, New Story, Scripture Reader, 11 Electors, Martin Luther Bio, Instructions on How to Read Holy Scripture, Calendars, Index & Important Teachings, and many other preliminary texts, -740 Old Testament -512 Prophets and Apocrypha, -480 New Testament, - [16] Symbols & Confessions - [7] Explanation of the Heretic Tree -3 original blanks - one of which has been turned into a manuscript index, written in Latin by a contemporary hand. It references the Heretic Tree plate, which has entries hand numbered. Condition Report: VERY GOOD. Original, including all blanks. Exterior and binding: Square spine, firm binding. Head of front joint with a 5" crack. Naturally discolored, darkened and aged leather boards--rubbed and worn and cracking in spots from centuries of use. Much of the ornate tooling and blind stamping is still distinct and beautiful. The original brass clasps and leather straps (scarcely found intact) are present and still functional. Much of the edge staining remains. A water dampening stain on the fore-edge. The Bible is strikingly beautiful with impressive shelf appeal! Interior: Trimmed pages. Some wear and aging to the watercolor painted pastedowns. Grubbiness to the original blank flyleaves. No worming. No marginalia, writing or underlining. Scattered spots of foxing at times. Pages range from bright white to heavily toned with most pages lightly to moderately toned. Vintage bookplate of a prior owner on front pastedown. Several pages with margin tears, sometimes extending further, with no loss of text. A few plates with some wear and tears. Usual signs of handling: marginal fingering, some creasing, some smudging, some marginal wear. Areas with light water dampening, mostly marginal. Impressive page numbering accuracy. All in all, a VERY GOOD and complete copy (and the only truly complete 1736 edition I can find) with beautiful illustrations, and in its gorgeous contemporary pigskin binding.