A single paper leaf from the Gutenberg Bible, comprising the full Deuteronomy IX and most of Deuteronomy X; two rubricated initials. Single leaf, royal folio (390 x 285 mm), double columns, 42 lines per column, gothic letter, initial spaces, central bull’s head watermark. With rubricator’s headlines, lombard capitals in red and blue alternating. Excellent condition, no worming, slightly corrugated margins, inner margin strengthened. [Mounted in:] A Noble Fragment: being a Leaf of the Gutenberg Bible, 1450-1455, with a Bibliographical Essay by A. Edward Newton [designed by Bruce Rogers and printed by William Edwin Rudge]. 1921. New York. Gabriel Wells. pp. [6], text in double columns, with title-page and one initial letter printed in red. Original full black blindstamped goat-skin by Stikeman & Co., covers lettered in gilt, some minor rubbing at edges.

Provenance

1. From the incomplete copy of Maria Elisabeth Augusta von Sulzbach (1721-1794), wife of Karl Theodor, Count-Palatine and Duke of Bavaria and Sulzbach (the coat-of-arms of Carl Theodor and his first wife Maria Elisabeth was stamped on the previous binding), Electoral Prince of the Palatinate, subsequently Electoral Prince of Bavaria (1724-1799);

2. Hofbibliothek at Mannheim Court Library. After Karl Theodor’s death to;

3. Munich, Royal Library, sold as a duplicate in 1832;

4. Later on in the possession of Robert Curzon, 14th baron Zouche (1810-1873) by descent to;

5. Baroness Zouche of Haryngworth;

6. Sotheby’s, 9th November 1920 (Zouche sale), n° 70;

7. Joseph Sabin, sold to;

8. Gabriel Wells, who broke up the copy, dispersing it in single leaves or larger fragments;

9. Private collection, England.