Buchdruckergeschichte, 1786, 4to. pt. i. 142, refers particularly to Panzer, Nasts, J. M. Goke, and Magnus; the latter of whom wrote a disquisition upon the Bibles printed in Lower Saxony. But the evidence adduced by De Murr, and hereafter specified, seems conclusive in behalf of Gunther Zainer's being the printer of these volumes. This impression has escaped the researches of Vogt, Clement, Bauer, Seemiller, and most of the later bibliographers. It begins, on the reverse of the first leaf, with a register of the books in the Old and New Testaments; which fills the first column and a little more than half of the second. On the recto of the ensuing leaf begins St. Jerom's epistle to Paulinus, with a large printed capital initial B, extending from the 1st to the 15th line, inclusively. On the recto of fol. IIII. begins St. Jerom's preface to the Pentateuch. On the recto of fol. V. begins the first chapter of Genesis, with a very singular capital initial, of which the following is a fac-simile: The first volume terminates on the reverse of fol. CCLXX, at bottom of the second column; the last sentence being printed in red. In this volume is a singular circumstance of, apparently, a leaf sub sequently printed, and inserted, just before the book of Esdras, between fol'. clxxxv. and clxxxvi. It is composed of thinner paper, and is of less dimension than the usual leaves: having the following, at the bottom of the only column in the leaf, printed in red. Ein ende hatt das gebett manafses The second volume begins on fol. ccLxxj. rect. with Ecclesiastes : having a wood-cut capital initial of Solomon seated upon his throne. On the reverse of fol. ccccxxi. the Old Testament ends: Epn ende hat das ander buch der streiter das man nennet zu latein machabeorü. On the recto of the ensuing leaf, numbered I. begins the prefatory epistle to St. Matthew's Gospel. On the reverse begins the Gospel itself, with a large wood-cut of similar dimensions to the foregoing. The New Testament concludes on the recto of fol. Cx. at top of the second column, thus-printed in red: VOL. I. Dils durchleuchtigost werck der gantzen H This edition is printed in double columns, containing 532 leaves, and having 58 lines in a full page. There are neither signatures nor catchwords, but running titles; and the folios are twice numbered upon the same leaf: viz. on the outer margin of the recto, and on the inner margin of the reverse: a circumstance perhaps peculiar to the present work. In regard to the period of its execution, Panzer, who in his Annalen der altern deutschen Litteratur, 1788, 4to. p. 14-15 gives a sufficiently minute account of the edition, fixes it between the years 1473-5. But from De Murr we learn that, in an old book of entries of benefactors to the Carthusian Monastery at Buxheim, there is one of the date of 1474, in which the name of dns Gunther9 impssor ciuis auguste, &c. occurs, as the printer and donor of certain works, and among them of 'the Bible in the vulgar tongue, in super royal form.' Another entry informs us of the death of Gunther Zainer in 1478-'impressor librorum, ciuis Augustensis benefactor huius domus.' See the Memorab. Bibl. Norimb; pt. i. p. 351-3. According to Brucker it was printed between the years 1470-1477; either by Baemler or Sorg. Consult Bibl. Bunav. vol. i. p. 24, where some specimens are exhibited of the readings of the text ( Caeterum ipsa versio multis in locis inepta et ridicula de ignorantia Interpretis testatur,' &c.). These volumes are printed in fine black ink; and, from their dimensions and condition, have a magnificent aspect. This copy is in its legitimate state, and is beautifully bound in blue morocco. A copy of this edition is also in the Royal Library. 27. BIBLIA VULGATA GERMANICA. Printed by Anthony Sorg. Augsbourg. 1477. Folio. 2 vols. We will first give a bibliographical description of the volumes. Hie hebt an die vorrede oder die epistel des hailige priesters sant Jheronimi zu pau linum von allen gotlichen hystorien der buch er vnder der biblen Das erst capitel This is the beginning of St. Jerom's prefatory epistle, and is printed at the top of the first column, over a wood-cut of the Saint, with a cardinal's hat on, sitting in his chair, with a pen in his hand and books before him. A lion couchant at his feet. The epistle to Ambrosius (Bruder ambrosius') begins below: the capital initial B, is printed-and resembles, on a small scale, the first capital initial of the Psalter of 1457. The preliminary epistles of St. Jerom (including that to the Pentateuch) occupy the first 8 pages; on the recto of fol. v. begins the first book of Genesis; with a wood-cut of the Almighty creating the world, and Adam in the centre. The creation of Eve is represented, by the usual wood-cut, in the 2d chapter. Every book in the Old and New Testament is preceded by a wood-cut. The folios cease to be numbered after fol. viij. The first vol. ends at the conclusion of the Psalter, at the 2d column: DEO GRATJAS Epn Ende hat Die weplsagunge Oder der The 2d vol. begins with the prefatory epistle to the book of Proverbs: a portrait of Solomon being over the first chapter. The Old Testament ends thus: Ein Ende hat das ander Buch machabeoruz Auch endet sich Hie das Testa ment Der Alten Ee. Beneath, is a curious wood-cut of a child riding on an ass, whose knees are bended: a bandage is round the child's eyes: a crown falls from his head; and a goat's head with instruments are in his left hand. Before him is a man with a long sword, who has just cut off the head of another man: the head lies on the ground, encircled by a glory: from the position of the dead body, the person appears to have just entered the room. The New Testament begins on the recto of the ensuing leaf, with a prefatory epistle by St. Jerom; over which is the following woodcut: representing a beast described in the Revelations, ch. v. The cuts in the New Testament are uniformly representations of portraits, and not of subjects of history. The text ends with the following colophon, on the recto of the last leaf but one: Dpls durchlewchtigofst werck der gantz |