Bible (in Greek)

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Bible (in Greek)

Printer Aldine Press (Andrea Asolano), Italian, active 1515-1533

Place of OriginItaly (Venice)

Date1518

DimensionsOverall: 8 1/4 in. (209.55mm)

MediumPrinted book; borders and inials printed in red.

ClassificationBooks

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number

1954.36

Not on View

Label TextAt Venice in 1518 the famous printing house of Aldus Manutius produced this earliest Bible printed in Greek characters. The Old Testament is in the Septuagint version, the Greek translation said to have been ordered by Ptolemy Philadelphus, ruler of Egypt in the Third Century B.C. The New Testament follows a translation made by Eras mus of Rotterdam with a few alterations. This volume is notable for its beauty of typography as well as for its importance in the history of printing. It is bound in olive-green morocco, with the monogram of the duke of Manchester, its nineteenth century owner. When Aldus died in 1515, his press was managed by his in-laws,the Asolano brothers. However, the standards set by Aldus were not strictly maintained, and the group of scholar-associates dispersed. This is the first Bible printed in Greek. The New Testament followed a translation made by Erasmus of Rotterdam. The volume is notable for the beauty of its typography as well as for its importance in the history of printingExhibition HistoryToledo Museum of Art, The Art of the Bible, The Bible as Art, Hitchcock Gallery, Nov, 2001-Jan. 2002.