Description
EXODUS 8:22-9:21. “Plagues!” Biblia, 1541. German. Martin Luther, trans. Printed in Wittemberg by Hans Lufft. Woodcuts by Georg Lemberger from the Cranach Workshop.
The first complete revision of Luther’s 1534 Bible (editio princeps), coming midway between the first and the last in Luther’s lifetime (d. 1546), the final revision coming in 1545. Hence the term “Median Bible” for this edition, a mid-size folio. Standard Reference: VD16. Two (2) large Picture-WOODCUTS, each with LG monograms (Georg Lemberger, the Cranach Workshop), 5.5″ x 4.5″. One woodcut initial “D”, 7 lines high, inhabited. Leaf-size: 12.2″ x 8.0″, w. professionally repaired margins. FINE- condition; light to moderate stains to outer margins (see pics). A nice example of an early Luther Bible leaf, with a central text from Exodus. The facing woodcut, recto, depicts Moses initiating a plague, of what exactly is unclear, perhaps of blood. The reverse side woodcut, verso, depicts Moses initiating other plagues from heaven, though again it is unclear which one is depicted, perhaps of boils or hail (Ch 9).
COA on premium “gold leaf” paper w. gold seal. Leaf and COA set in a large Bifold Portfolio.
