6. Biblia. (German)

Nuremberg: Anton Koberger, 17 February 1483

Description

One leaf (paper) from the Nuremberg Bible: Exodus, Chap. X and Chap XI, the Israelites in Egypt Gothic type; Printed in double columns on both sides of the page; 402 x 284 mm (fol). Woodcuts and initials are hand-coloured.

Binding

n/a

Printer

Anton Koberger of Nuremberg (b. about 1445; d.1513) was a goldsmith before he became a printer and bookseller. He began printing about 1470, his first dated book being Alcinous's Disciplinarum Platonis epitome, 24 November 1472. In 1483, he produced a German Bible and in 1484, the first book printed in the Hungarian language. Koberger was primarily a publisher, an entrepreneur par excellence, who, by 1500 had produced as many as 200 works and sold them through the various agencies he had in cities. He employed traveling salesmen, and issued one of the first advertising circulars. According to statements, Koberger had some twenty-four presses operating a day for his printing and employed over a hundred workmen.

Provenance

1. Esmond de Beer 2. Otago University Library

Reference

H 3137*; BMC II 424; ISTC ib00632000; GW 4303

Illustrations

Full page (f.36a), detail colour woodcut (f.36b and f. 36a).