The Mazarine Bible.
The first important
specimen of printing was the celebrated Bible
of 637 leaves, with large cut metal types,
which was executed between Gutenberg and
Fust.
It is known by the number of its leaves
to distinguish it more accurately from other
editions without date.
This Bible is an edition
of the Latin Vulgate, and was executed between
the years 1450 and 1455. It forms two volumes
in folio, is printed in large Gothic or German
character, and is a remarkable specimen of
beautiful printing.
A copy at Lord Ashburnham’s
sale recently fetched £4,000.
This
particular edition is sometimes called the
“forty-two line” Bible.