Books and Manuscripts

One of the final lifetime editions of the Prophets, Apocrypha, and the New Testament, from Martin Luther's German translation of the Bible

Wittenberg: Hans Lufft, 1541. Early edition. Volume two (of two) only; containing the Prophets, the Apocrypha, and the New Testament. Folio, 13 5/8 x 9 1/4 in. (346 x 235 mm). ff. CCCCXI (some leaves misnumbered). Illustrated with woodcut border on title-page (according to the University and State Library of Saxony-Anhalt, there are different woodcut title borders found in some copies, and they can differ for each; this copy with a series of armorial crests, and not with the story of the Law and the Gospel, as in Darlow & Moule's copy), woodcut portrait of Johann Frederick I the Magnanimous, Elector of Saxony, numerous woodcut initials, and 64 woodcuts, by the workshop of Lucas Cranach the Younger (1515-86). Contemporary full sheep over wooden boards, rebacked, boards elaborately stamped in blind, original brass corner ornaments intact, clasps perished, boards and extremities rubbed; all edges stained black; dampstaining to most text leaves; scattered soiling in text margins; signature A starting; extensive MS. in numerous hands on recto and verso of front free endpaper. Darlow & Moule 4204

The second volume of a revised early edition of Martin Luther's (1483-1546) German bible, featuring the Prophets (ff. I-CLII), the Apocrypha (CLIII-CCXLI), and the New Testament (CCXLII-CCCCX). This edition was the second-to-last Bible revised by Luther in his lifetime. It was edited by him in 1539 and 1540 with the help of a committee including Philipp Melanchthon (1497-1560), Johannes Bugenhagen (1485-1558), Justus Jonas (1493-1555), Caspar Creuziger (1504-48), Matthäus Aurogallus (1490-1543), and Georg Rörer (1492-1557).

Hans Lufft (1495-1584) was a German printer and publisher, commonly known as the "Bible Printer" for his 1534 publication of Martin Luther's first complete edition of the German translation of the Bible. Luther's Bible became an instant bestseller, and between 1534-84 Lufft published many editions. The final edition revised by Luther before his death was published by Lufft four years after this copy, in 1545.