1482 New Testament Venetian Latin Bible Folio Leaf | Incunable

Summary

An original fifteenth-century Latin Vulgate Bible leaf, attributed to Venice, 1482. Printed in Gothic type with hand-coloured red and blue initials, containing the conclusion of Romans and the opening of St Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians. Presented in a modern red cloth portfolio.

Description

An attractive example of early European printing from the incunable period, the first fifty years of printing with movable type in Europe.

Attributed to Venice in 1482, this folio leaf originates from a Latin Vulgate Bible and preserves the transition between two of the most significant epistles of the New Testament.

The recto contains the conclusion of St Paul's Epistle to the Romans, followed by the prologue to the First Epistle to the Corinthians. The verso opens with the heading "Ad Corinthios I" and the beginning of the epistle, introduced by a large decorative blue initial.

The text is printed in two columns of Gothic type, with biblical cross-references and chapter divisions in the margins. Particularly noteworthy are the hand-coloured initials in red and blue, reflecting the continuation of medieval manuscript decoration into the early age of printing.

Venice was among Europe's foremost printing centres during the fifteenth century, producing substantial quantities of religious, classical and scholarly works for an international readership.

Printed before 1501, this leaf belongs to the period known as incunabula, representing the earliest generations of European printed books.

Condition

The original leaf exhibits age-related toning, staining, foxing and marginal wear consistent with its considerable age. The printed text remains substantially intact and legible, with the coloured initials well preserved.

Presented within a modern red cloth portfolio, lettered in gilt "Biblia Sacra, Venice, 1482", with the leaf displayed in a window mount.

Bibliographical Details

Title: Biblia Sacra (Latin Vulgate)

Date: 1482 (attributed)

Place of Printing: Venice, Italy (attributed)

Format: Folio

Language: Latin

Contents: Romans, concluding text; prologue and opening of 1 Corinthians

Decoration: Hand-coloured red and blue initials

Binding/Presentation: Single original leaf, mounted in a modern red cloth portfolio

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