[Bible]

Biblia Sacra. Quid in hac editione à Theologis Lovaniensibus praestitum sit, paulo post indicatur

Antverpiae [Antwerp], Ex officina Christophori Plantini [Christophe Plantin], 1584 (first thus).

Octavo, [xvi], 804, [2] (blank), [32] ('Index Biblicus') pages; text in two columns with shoulder notes, all within ruled borders; title with elaborate woodcut border and printer's device.

Early full calf, stamped and ruled in blind; leaves from an unidentified early edition of the Codex Justinianus (printed in red and black) used for the pastedowns; expertly rebacked retaining all but the bottom compartment of the backstrip; cloth ties lacking; joints cracking but firm; faint tidemark about the gutter at the beginning and end of the volume; a few unobtrusive stains and creases; four small ink annotations (two early, two later); overall, a very good copy.

An early edition of the Louvain (Leuven) Vulgate, from the famous press of Christophe Plantin. The colophon gives a publication date of 1583.

The Louvain Vulgate, edited by John Henten (Hentenius) was first published in 1547. This 1584 Plantin edition is the first to incorporate the important scholarly apparatus of Franciscus Lucas Brugensis, who expanded and corrected Hentenius' notes on the manuscript sources (Quentin: 'Mémoire sur l'Etablissement du Texte de la Vulgate', 1922). The 'Index Biblicus' bound at the rear of the volume was compiled by Lucas' master, Johannes Willemsz (Harlemius).

Two old ownership signatures to the flyleaf, the earlier crossed out, the later reading 'J Maul, A.B., Christ College, Cambridge'.