Bible, Greek & Latin.- Apanta ta tês kainês

Bible, Greek & Latin.- Apanta ta tês kainês diatêkês. Novum Jesu Christi Testamentum, 2 vol., collation: a-z aa-zz aaa-mmm8 : A-Z AA-QQ8 : AA-HH8 II10 Aa-Ee8 Ff10, triple column, titles with woodcut printer's device, vol.1 lacking final blank, title with small abrasion mark, touching a couple of letters, stained and damp-spotted, worm trace / small hole to all from rr1 to end, mostly marginal, but occasionally affecting the odd letter, lightly browned, vol.2 without the 'Harmonia Evangelica' section (AA-HH8 II10), E6&7 and F7 detached, occasional spotting and light staining, both vol. closely trimmed at head, occasionally affecting a headline, 18th century calf, richly gilt spines in compartments and with red and olive morocco labels, vol.1 foot of spine worn, vol.2 chipped at head of spine, both vol. rubbed and a little stained, 8vo (c.130 x 80mm.), [Geneva], Robert Estienne, 1551.

⁂ The first edition of the New Testament with modern verse numbering, which was an innovation of Robert Estienne, and which he explains in the preface. This is one of his earliest Geneva publications. It is rare to find both volumes together at auction ('C'est le plus rare peut-être de tous les Nouv. T. Gr. imprimés par Robert' (Renouard)).

Provenance: 'H.W. Moule, June 27.1923.' (ink inscription to front free endpaper of both vol.).

Literature: Adams B1688; D&M 4623. Renouard, Estienne, 78:1; Not in Schreiber.