1647 Rare Latin Vellum Book - Bible, Esdras and other Old Testament Apocrypha Books.

(Description)

Author: Anonymous
Title: Esdras, Tobias, Judith, Esther, Job, Psalmi, Proverbia, Ecclesiastes, Canticum Canticorum, Sapientia, Ecclesiasticus  (Bound with) Manassae Oratio, Esdrae Lib. III & IV.
Publisher: Coloniae Agrippinae (Cologne), Sumpt. Viduae Bernardi Gualteri & Sociorum, 1647. Complete 2 books in 1 volume.
Language: Text in Latin.
Size: Small 4" X 2". 
Pages: 558, 93 pages + Index.
Binding: Attractive and very good contemporary vellum binding with two brass clasps intact. The brass clasps are functional and securely attached (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective, removable mylar cover.
Content: Good content (tight, some light staining and foxing - as shown, small chip to the upper margin of the last page - as shown, first free blank endpaper page missing - as often, front inner hinge partly cracked but still tight - as shown).
Illustrations: The book includes a few woodcut decorations and initials, typical of the printing style of the mid-17th century. 

Estimate: (USD 350 - USD 500)

The book: This rare and fascinating 1647 edition combines two significant volumes of biblical and apocryphal texts bound together in a single vellum-covered volume. The inclusion of both Esdras and other Old Testament Apocrypha alongside the Prayers of Manasseh and the additional books of Esdras reflects the broad scope of biblical scholarship in the 17th century. The original vellum binding, complete with functioning brass clasps, is a particularly desirable feature, as such bindings are often found in poor condition or missing parts. This book is a precious artifact of religious literature from the early modern period, reflecting the devotional practices and textual scholarship of its time.

The publisher: Published in Cologne by the widow of Bernard Gualter, a known printer and publisher in 17th-century Germany, this work reflects the high standards of printing and bookbinding of the period. The inclusion of Latin texts would have made this work accessible primarily to scholars and clergy, underscoring its importance as a theological resource.