Beschreibung:

GUTENBERG, Johann (d. 1468)] Biblia Latina. [Mainz: Johann Gutenberg and Johann Fust c.1455.] A leaf from the Gutenberg Bible, the first substantial book printed with moveable type. This leaf contains the conversion of Saint Paul, being the end of Chapter 21 through the middle of Chapter 23 of the Acts of the Apostles. Saint Paul's transformation from a persecutor of Christians to one of the most important figures of the early church has become a cultural touchstone. In this passage, he describes his dramatic conversion experience on the road to Damascus: "suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" Chalmers Disbound and Dispersed 18; Hain *3031; Needham P18; Goff B-526. Folio (390 x 285mm). One leaf. 42 lines, double column, Gothic type. 2-line Lombard initials in blue and red, headlines and chapter numbers in alternating red and blue letters, capital strokes in red. Framed. Extracted from: A Noble Fragment: Being a leaf of the Gutenberg Bible, with a bibliographical essay by A. Edward Newton. New York: Gabriel Wells, 1921. Dark blue morocco gilt, by Stikeman and Co. Provenance: Maria Elisabeth Augusta von Sulzbach (1721-1794, wife of Carl Theodore, Electoral Prince of the Palatinate, subsequently Electoral Prince of Bavaria) – Mannheim, Hofbibliothek – Munich, Royal Library (their duplicate sale, 1832, sold for 350 guilders) – Robert Curzon Baron Zouche (1810-1873, and by descent until sold Sotheby's 9 November 1920, lot 70, to:) – Joseph Sabin (sold by him to:) – Gabriel Wells – John Lewis and Elizabeth B. Ketterlinus (1852-1932 and 1856-1930; owners of Ketterlinus Lithographic Manufacturing Company in Philadelphia; bookplate).