Biblia sacrosancta : ad Hebraicam veritatem & probatissimorum ac manuscriptorum exemplarium fidem diligentissimè recognita, & restituta [ZURICH BIBLE]

Basileae (Basel): apud haeredes Nicolai Brylingeri, 1569. Later edition. Hardcover. g to vg. Octavo. [8], 500 [i.e. 503], [19] leaves (Index lacking six leaves at rear). Modern full black cloth, with gold lettering to spine. All edges green. Title with vignette, within historical border. Date of publication misprint on title (1469 instead of 1569). Illustrated headpiece, and decorative initials.

First published in 1529, this copy is an early edition of the Zurich Bible, a Bible translation historically based on the translation by Huldrych Zwingli (1484-1531). Zwingli's translation grew out of the Prophezey, an exegetical workshop taking place (truncated) on every weekday, with the participation of all clerics of Zürich, working at a German rendition of Bible texts for the benefit of the congregation. The translation of Martin Luther was used as far as it was already completed. This helped Zwingli to complete the entire translation five years before Luther. At the printing shop of Christoph Froschauer, the New Testament appeared from 1525 to 1529, and later parts of the Old Testament, with a complete translation in a single volume first printed in 1531, with an introduction by Zwingli and summaries of each chapter. The translation is mainly due to Zwingli and his friend Leo Jud, pastor at the St. Peter parish. The translation of the Old Testament was revised in 1540, that of the New Testament in 1574. Verse numbering was introduced in 1589.

Contemporary inscription on title, as well as contemporary marginalia (in Hebrew and Latin) and underlining throughout. Clear waterstaining at upper margin of the first 136 leaves (not affecting lettering). Minor foxing to very first and very last leaves. Six leaves missing from the Index (Mundus to Victoria). Text in Latin. Binding in overall very good, interior in good to very good condition. (Inventory #: 40024)