182 / 224
16
de
eeuwse drukken
number of pages due to the use of this particular typesetting. It contains an introduction
to the reader, the Testaments of the Twelve sons of Jacob, an account of the discovery of
these texts and finally, the Testament of Jacob himself.
Its origin must be placed between c. 165 and 65 B.C. but the first textual versions in Greek
are given by Origen from Alexandria (c. 184-c. 253), considered by Erasmus as the most
important theologian of Christian Antiquity. Robert Grosseteste (c. 1175-1253), bishop of
Lincoln, produced a Latin translation and the first printed edition appeared c. 1520. In a very
short time it became very popular and was translated into German (1539), French (1540),
Dutch (c. 1540) and English (1574).
The Dutch translation went through at least 12 editions up to 1570 in the Southern and
Northern Netherlands; amongst those 3 printed by Plantin for Peeter Keerberghen, from
1561 to 1566, all in civilité. In 1569 the Duke of Alva ordered Plantin to reprint the "Index
Librorum Prohibitorum" from 1564 with an appendix of additional titles including the
Testaments of the Patriarchs (with a specific reference to Keerberghen's 1566 edition).
Probably, as a consequence of this, Plantin might have passed the baton to Silvius who
published the present edition and another one in the following year. Found in public and
recognised as forbidden books there is little doubt that most copies were destroyed. Our
copy seems to be the only surviving one of Silvius's first edition, as well as Cambridge
University Library appears to posess the only surviving copy of the 1570 edition.
The great French punchcutter Robert Granjon (c. 1512-1590) cut the first civilité type ever
for one of his own publications in 1557. Most probably Granjon, before leaving Antwerp in
1570, cut both civilité type sets appearing in our Testaments but which Silvius used already
in 1565 and 1566.
In all : a unique copy of a beautiful civilité edition of a banned Old Testament apocrypha,
and one of the greatest importance for the Antwerp typographical history.
▲ Provenance : Isaac Le Long (1683- after 1762), famous historian and bibliographer,
author of the first reference work on Dutch bibles "Boekzaal der Nederduytsche Bijbels"
published in 1732 (handwritten annot.; his sale in Amsterdam, 1744, nr 480; # Blogie
15); Jacob Isaac Doedes (1817-1897), famous theologian at the University of Utrecht
(handwritten annot.; his sale in Utrecht, Beijers, 4 May 1898, nr 841; # Blogie 139).
# Not in BB, neither in BT, Machiels, Adams, STC Dutch, Carter & Vervliet, NUC, OCLC
WorldCat, KVK (several references for related editions but not one concerning ours !).
¶
Exemplaire unique (!) d'une édition anversoise du Testament des Douze Patriarches, texte biblique
apocryphe mis à l'Index en 1569, entièrement en caractères de civilité. Rel. plein parchemin du 17
e
siècle (brûlure aux gardes devant).
472 – (Religion) -
2 Antwerpse drukken met devotionele teksten van de H.
Augustinus van Hippo vertaald en bewerkt door Antonius van Hemert.
Klein in-8° (licht verkleurd, smalle heldere watervlek in enkele marges).
19
de
eeuws bandje : halperkament, platten van bruin gesponst papier.
Est.
:
150/ 200 €
S. Augustijns innighe alleenspraken der sielen tot God. Antwerpen, Claes vanden Wouwere,
[1562]. [56] ff. (katernen K-Q8)-- S. Augustijns handboecxken vander aenscouwinghen
Christi. Idem, Symon Cock [1548 (?)]. [28] ff. (katernen R-T8, V4).
Samen 2 deeltjes (van 3) uit "S. Augustijns vierige meditatien oft aendachten" bezorgd door
Antonius van Hemert (1
ste
helft 16
de
eeuw), augustijns regulier kanunnik van Windesheim
te Marienhage bij Eindhoven, en uitgegeven eerst door Simon Cock en kort nadien door
Claes vanden Wouwere. Geïllustreerd met houtblokjes in de tekst.
# BT 198-199; # STC Dutch 15; # Lourdaux & Persoons 17; # not in Machiels nor Adams;
# NNBW VIII-520.
¶
Réunion de 2 textes de dévotion d'après Saint Augustin, illustrés de bois in texto. Demi-vélin du 19
e
s.
(lég. teinté, faible mouill. margin. à qqs ff.).