1. L'HISTOIRE DE LA BIBLE. Histoire du Vieux et du Nouveau Testament enrichie de plus de quatre cens figures en Taille douce (...) Tome premier. L'Histoire du N[ouveau] Testament. Histoire du Nouveau Testament enrichie de grande nombre de figures en Taille douce. Tome second.
Antwerp 1700, Pierre Mortier, T. 1: VII k. (including frontispiece) +282 pp. +282 engravings (141 p. plates with two engravings per p.) +4 k. + 2 k.; T. 2: XIV k. (including frontispiece) +154 p. +146 engravings (73 p. boards with two graphics per p.) +2 k. +3 maps +2 k. +1 map +2 k. +1 map +20 p. + 2 k.
Beautifully illustrated first original unique edition complete in 2 volumes of the so-called Biblical History of the Old and New Testaments. Acollection with text by David Martin (1639-1721), aCalvinist theologian and Protestant pastor originally from Languedoc who settled in Utrecht, Netherlands. This work is sometimes referred to as theCalvinist Bible by Pierre Mortier in reference to the Author of the text and the Publisher. The Bible uniquely illustrated with 214 pages of copperplate charts with over 400 engravings and 5 double fold-out maps at the end of the second volume. The maps depict the entire World with Australia as the New Netherlands, the Middle East, Egypt, the Holy Land and St. Paul's Travels through the Roman Empire. The work is crowned with a so-called sacred chronology and indexes. Among the maps and engravings are ancient Egypt and Israel, copper engravings depicting biblical scenes , such asthe Tower of Babel, Noah's ark, the Mishkan (Tent of Meeting), theJerusalem temple, the High Priest's garb, as well as unique scenes from the New Testament, including the Apocalypse of St. John .Pieces offered on the market are priced from $1,800 to $11,500, depending on the state of preservation and the binding.
Period binding, full brown leather in medium condition with significant rubbing and loss especially at corners and edges; spine embossed and gilded with title and geometric and floral designs, but in volume one with significant loss at bottom, and in volume two, at top; in both cases to the height of one bind; nevertheless, the block is tight and the whole unblemished for stability despite thelarge folioformat ; moderate condition internally, in the margins here and there traces of former conservation and bookbinding; occasionally stains, but dry; moreover, at the edges of the margins occasionally tears, or traces of tears; copperplate engravings in db and bdb condition with strong print and plate reflections from the first pieces rather than the last; only in volume two at the maps minimal small xylophage holes at the stapling of the folds; on the pre-title page handwritten ex-librises of private owners of the old print probably from the 18th century.; overall average condition.
