Lot 238
Erasmus, Desiderius
Rare Books, Maps & Manuscripts
Auction: 15 January 2014 at 11:00 GMT
Description
The First Tome or Volume of the Paraphrase of Erasmus upon the Newe Testamente. London: Edward Whitchurch, 1548. Folio in sixes, engraved title-page, contemporary calf, lacking 2r1 (folio ccvii) and 4O2-4 (final three leaves), previous owner's signature to title-page, some dampstaining to pages, title-page and first 13 leaves disintegrated around edges with some loss to engraved area of title-page and to text of third leaf, initial pages loose, covers rubbed, spine torn and partially lacking [ESTC S188, STC 2854.3, with only 9 copies of this issue listed in UK libraries]
Footnote
Note: This copy corresponds to the British Library's description of STC 2854.3, which can be identified by the catchword 'Joseph' on the recto of Matthew B1. However, the British Library's copy appears to lack the title-page and eight of the twenty initial pages.
Under the rule of Edward VI of England, the book was the Church of England's authorised commentary on the New Testament. Arthur Sumner Herbert reports that the scarcity of this work can be attributed by the efforts of Mary I of England to restore the Vulgate (Latin) Bible, leading to many copies being destroyed. The second volume of the work (STC 2854.6 /.7) was published in 1549.