PSAUMES. Psalterium, cum aliis hymnis Biblicis... - Lot 318 - Pierre Bergé & Associés

Lot 318
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Estimation :
3000 - 5000 EUR
Result with fees
Result : 3 159EUR
PSAUMES. Psalterium, cum aliis hymnis Biblicis... - Lot 318 - Pierre Bergé & Associés
PSAUMES. Psalterium, cum aliis hymnis Biblicis Davidis. [Paris, Franciscus Estienne, 1543. In-16 (109 x 69 mm) of 269 ff. (numbered 261), 11 nn. ll.; printed in red and black. Brown morocco, boards decorated in the Du Seuil style, spine with ornate nerves, gilt edges (19th century binding). Renouard, Estienne, 100:1; Schreiber, 122; Adams lacks. The rare Greek psalter where the 'king's Greeks' were first used systematically. "Greek psalter of exceptional rarity which, with the equally rare Greek Horae of the same year, contains the earliest appearance in a book of any part of the celebrated 'king's Greeks' (except for the rare 1543 Alphabetum Graecum, issued as a type specimen book...) The lowercase of the type here used is still entirely Aldine, but the capitals are considerably larger... the following year, 1544, these capitals recur in conjunction with a new lower-case, both together making up the first French Royal type, in an edition of the writings of Eusebius signed by Robert Estienne. This rare Greek Psalter may have been printed by Robert Estienne - in view of the use of the 'grecs du roi' - who is known to have printed other books for his brother" (Schreiber 122). Already of legendary rarity in the 19th century, Renouard notes: "The two books most remarkable for their execution among those that François put on sale are the Psalterium Graecum, and the Hours, also in Greek, both volumes of 1543, and printed in red and black. These two volumes are rare. The end of the volume is occupied by a very complete index, written in Latin and Greek to facilitate its use. A very good copy. Provenance: Cornelius Hauck (bookplate, Christie's sale, New York, June 2006).
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