The Holy Gospel Bible

TITLE: The Holy Gospel According to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, Officina Bodoni (Verona), 1962.____DESCRIPTION: No. 155 of 155 copies for the United States, total edition of 320 copies. Large quarto (4to.) 12 1/4 x 8 3/4 inches, 313 x 216 mm. Full crimson oasis morocco leather binding with gilt ornament and title on the front cover and gilt spine title, top edge gilt, fore-edge untrimmed. Title page engraved by Reynolds Stone. Illustrated with 114 woodcuts from the Epistole et Evangelii (Florence, 1495) with the woodcuts newly carved by Bruno Bramanti after the original illustrations by Bartolomeo di Giovanni (1495), then printed directly from the wooden blocks. Printed in Giovanni Mardersteig's Zeno type on a 19th century hand-press by Mardersteig on handmade paper by Fratelli Magnani in Pescia. With a postscript by Mardersteig. Book is protected with an archival clear Grafix Dura Lar dust wrapper. Morocco-lipped slipcase covered in a fine grey cloth with crimson geometric Greek key border design matching the color of the morocco leather binding.____CONDITION: Near fine. Hint of fading to the spine, a bit more pronounced toward the head and foot, but much less than usually seen in this edition. A 4 mm round 'spot' of slightly decreased coloration at the upper outer quadrant of the front cover. NOTE: Larger faint white spots are camera and light artifacts. Slipcase has a faint, barely discernible stain at the top of the front board, mid-aspect (see photo). Otherwise, interior contents in fine condition without markings, ex-libris, foxing, etc._____DISCUSSION: This edition is a specialty of the Officina Bodoni in which the OB edition was based upon an early 16th or 17th century book with medieval wood engravings. Mardersteig would then commission one of the finest Italian wood engravers, often Bruno Bramanti, to recarve the wooden blocks and then use them directly to recreate these extraordinary illustrations for his new editions. This is one of the greatest books in the Officina Bodoni bibliography. NOTE: International shipping cost to the United Kingdom and Europe is $55 U.S. dollars.