![4
First book printed in Ge'ez.- Bible, Ethiopic.- Psalterium David et Cantica aliqua, edited by Johann Potken, collation: [1-128, 13-146], 108 ff., printed in red and black, Ethiopic and Roman type, first f. recto with a full-page woodcut in red showing a seated King David playing a harp within a decorative border signed 'S.C.', woodcut knotwork head-pieces, headings and initials in red, marginal repair to first and last ff., water-stained (mostly at start), some mostly light spotting and finger-marking, attractive contemporary ?French ornately blind-stamped calf over boards, sympathetically rebacked, remains of ties, corners little worn, rubbed, 4to (225 x 160mm.), [Rome], [Marcello Silber for Johannes Potken], 1513.
*** Rare copy of the first edition of the first book printed in Ge'ez (or classical Ethiopic), and the first book of the Bible to be printed in an eastern language other than Hebrew. The editor was a German clergyman and papal protonotary, and he 'describes in his preface how he had heard Ethiopian strangers in Rome reciting sacred hymns, in which he recognized the names of the Blessed Virgin, the Apostles and certain Saints. Aroused by curiosity he determined to learn Ethiopic - which he calls lingua Chaldea - and eventually succeeded in mastering enough of the language to enable him to publish this edition in the native character.' (Darlow & Moule).
Provenance: 'Questa Cantica è stata mandata da Genoua dal P. Gabriele di Casale Prouinciale de Capucini, anno 1606. mensis Nouemb' (ink inscription to front pastedown).
Literature: Adams B1481: Darlow & Moule 3560; Fumagalli, Bibliografia Etiopica, p. 353; Smitskamp III, 233.](https://am-s3-bucket-assets.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/forum/prod/lot_images/xlarge/11005f14-9b90-ee11-b864-d4548b6f1f2f/dc4c2496-4f91-ee11-817b-6045bdfc47ac.webp "4
First book printed in Ge'ez.- Bible, Ethiopic.- Psalterium David et Cantica aliqua, edited by Johann Potken, collation: [1-128, 13-146], 108 ff., printed in red and black, Ethiopic and Roman type, first f. recto with a full-page woodcut in red showing a seated King David playing a harp within a decorative border signed 'S.C.', woodcut knotwork head-pieces, headings and initials in red, marginal repair to first and last ff., water-stained (mostly at start), some mostly light spotting and finger-marking, attractive contemporary ?French ornately blind-stamped calf over boards, sympathetically rebacked, remains of ties, corners little worn, rubbed, 4to (225 x 160mm.), [Rome], [Marcello Silber for Johannes Potken], 1513.
*** Rare copy of the first edition of the first book printed in Ge'ez (or classical Ethiopic), and the first book of the Bible to be printed in an eastern language other than Hebrew. The editor was a German clergyman and papal protonotary, and he 'describes in his preface how he had heard Ethiopian strangers in Rome reciting sacred hymns, in which he recognized the names of the Blessed Virgin, the Apostles and certain Saints. Aroused by curiosity he determined to learn Ethiopic - which he calls lingua Chaldea - and eventually succeeded in mastering enough of the language to enable him to publish this edition in the native character.' (Darlow & Moule).
Provenance: 'Questa Cantica è stata mandata da Genoua dal P. Gabriele di Casale Prouinciale de Capucini, anno 1606. mensis Nouemb' (ink inscription to front pastedown).
Literature: Adams B1481: Darlow & Moule 3560; Fumagalli, Bibliografia Etiopica, p. 353; Smitskamp III, 233.")
![4
First book printed in Ge'ez.- Bible, Ethiopic.- Psalterium David et Cantica aliqua, edited by Johann Potken, collation: [1-128, 13-146], 108 ff., printed in red and black, Ethiopic and Roman type, first f. recto with a full-page woodcut in red showing a seated King David playing a harp within a decorative border signed 'S.C.', woodcut knotwork head-pieces, headings and initials in red, marginal repair to first and last ff., water-stained (mostly at start), some mostly light spotting and finger-marking, attractive contemporary ?French ornately blind-stamped calf over boards, sympathetically rebacked, remains of ties, corners little worn, rubbed, 4to (225 x 160mm.), [Rome], [Marcello Silber for Johannes Potken], 1513.
*** Rare copy of the first edition of the first book printed in Ge'ez (or classical Ethiopic), and the first book of the Bible to be printed in an eastern language other than Hebrew. The editor was a German clergyman and papal protonotary, and he 'describes in his preface how he had heard Ethiopian strangers in Rome reciting sacred hymns, in which he recognized the names of the Blessed Virgin, the Apostles and certain Saints. Aroused by curiosity he determined to learn Ethiopic - which he calls lingua Chaldea - and eventually succeeded in mastering enough of the language to enable him to publish this edition in the native character.' (Darlow & Moule).
Provenance: 'Questa Cantica è stata mandata da Genoua dal P. Gabriele di Casale Prouinciale de Capucini, anno 1606. mensis Nouemb' (ink inscription to front pastedown).
Literature: Adams B1481: Darlow & Moule 3560; Fumagalli, Bibliografia Etiopica, p. 353; Smitskamp III, 233.](https://am-s3-bucket-assets.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/forum/prod/lot_images/xlarge/11005f14-9b90-ee11-b864-d4548b6f1f2f/ee4c2496-4f91-ee11-817b-6045bdfc47ac.webp "4
First book printed in Ge'ez.- Bible, Ethiopic.- Psalterium David et Cantica aliqua, edited by Johann Potken, collation: [1-128, 13-146], 108 ff., printed in red and black, Ethiopic and Roman type, first f. recto with a full-page woodcut in red showing a seated King David playing a harp within a decorative border signed 'S.C.', woodcut knotwork head-pieces, headings and initials in red, marginal repair to first and last ff., water-stained (mostly at start), some mostly light spotting and finger-marking, attractive contemporary ?French ornately blind-stamped calf over boards, sympathetically rebacked, remains of ties, corners little worn, rubbed, 4to (225 x 160mm.), [Rome], [Marcello Silber for Johannes Potken], 1513.
*** Rare copy of the first edition of the first book printed in Ge'ez (or classical Ethiopic), and the first book of the Bible to be printed in an eastern language other than Hebrew. The editor was a German clergyman and papal protonotary, and he 'describes in his preface how he had heard Ethiopian strangers in Rome reciting sacred hymns, in which he recognized the names of the Blessed Virgin, the Apostles and certain Saints. Aroused by curiosity he determined to learn Ethiopic - which he calls lingua Chaldea - and eventually succeeded in mastering enough of the language to enable him to publish this edition in the native character.' (Darlow & Moule).
Provenance: 'Questa Cantica è stata mandata da Genoua dal P. Gabriele di Casale Prouinciale de Capucini, anno 1606. mensis Nouemb' (ink inscription to front pastedown).
Literature: Adams B1481: Darlow & Moule 3560; Fumagalli, Bibliografia Etiopica, p. 353; Smitskamp III, 233.")
![4
First book printed in Ge'ez.- Bible, Ethiopic.- Psalterium David et Cantica aliqua, edited by Johann Potken, collation: [1-128, 13-146], 108 ff., printed in red and black, Ethiopic and Roman type, first f. recto with a full-page woodcut in red showing a seated King David playing a harp within a decorative border signed 'S.C.', woodcut knotwork head-pieces, headings and initials in red, marginal repair to first and last ff., water-stained (mostly at start), some mostly light spotting and finger-marking, attractive contemporary ?French ornately blind-stamped calf over boards, sympathetically rebacked, remains of ties, corners little worn, rubbed, 4to (225 x 160mm.), [Rome], [Marcello Silber for Johannes Potken], 1513.
*** Rare copy of the first edition of the first book printed in Ge'ez (or classical Ethiopic), and the first book of the Bible to be printed in an eastern language other than Hebrew. The editor was a German clergyman and papal protonotary, and he 'describes in his preface how he had heard Ethiopian strangers in Rome reciting sacred hymns, in which he recognized the names of the Blessed Virgin, the Apostles and certain Saints. Aroused by curiosity he determined to learn Ethiopic - which he calls lingua Chaldea - and eventually succeeded in mastering enough of the language to enable him to publish this edition in the native character.' (Darlow & Moule).
Provenance: 'Questa Cantica è stata mandata da Genoua dal P. Gabriele di Casale Prouinciale de Capucini, anno 1606. mensis Nouemb' (ink inscription to front pastedown).
Literature: Adams B1481: Darlow & Moule 3560; Fumagalli, Bibliografia Etiopica, p. 353; Smitskamp III, 233.](https://am-s3-bucket-assets.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/forum/prod/lot_images/small/11005f14-9b90-ee11-b864-d4548b6f1f2f/dc4c2496-4f91-ee11-817b-6045bdfc47ac.webp "4
First book printed in Ge'ez.- Bible, Ethiopic.- Psalterium David et Cantica aliqua, edited by Johann Potken, collation: [1-128, 13-146], 108 ff., printed in red and black, Ethiopic and Roman type, first f. recto with a full-page woodcut in red showing a seated King David playing a harp within a decorative border signed 'S.C.', woodcut knotwork head-pieces, headings and initials in red, marginal repair to first and last ff., water-stained (mostly at start), some mostly light spotting and finger-marking, attractive contemporary ?French ornately blind-stamped calf over boards, sympathetically rebacked, remains of ties, corners little worn, rubbed, 4to (225 x 160mm.), [Rome], [Marcello Silber for Johannes Potken], 1513.
*** Rare copy of the first edition of the first book printed in Ge'ez (or classical Ethiopic), and the first book of the Bible to be printed in an eastern language other than Hebrew. The editor was a German clergyman and papal protonotary, and he 'describes in his preface how he had heard Ethiopian strangers in Rome reciting sacred hymns, in which he recognized the names of the Blessed Virgin, the Apostles and certain Saints. Aroused by curiosity he determined to learn Ethiopic - which he calls lingua Chaldea - and eventually succeeded in mastering enough of the language to enable him to publish this edition in the native character.' (Darlow & Moule).
Provenance: 'Questa Cantica è stata mandata da Genoua dal P. Gabriele di Casale Prouinciale de Capucini, anno 1606. mensis Nouemb' (ink inscription to front pastedown).
Literature: Adams B1481: Darlow & Moule 3560; Fumagalli, Bibliografia Etiopica, p. 353; Smitskamp III, 233.")
![4
First book printed in Ge'ez.- Bible, Ethiopic.- Psalterium David et Cantica aliqua, edited by Johann Potken, collation: [1-128, 13-146], 108 ff., printed in red and black, Ethiopic and Roman type, first f. recto with a full-page woodcut in red showing a seated King David playing a harp within a decorative border signed 'S.C.', woodcut knotwork head-pieces, headings and initials in red, marginal repair to first and last ff., water-stained (mostly at start), some mostly light spotting and finger-marking, attractive contemporary ?French ornately blind-stamped calf over boards, sympathetically rebacked, remains of ties, corners little worn, rubbed, 4to (225 x 160mm.), [Rome], [Marcello Silber for Johannes Potken], 1513.
*** Rare copy of the first edition of the first book printed in Ge'ez (or classical Ethiopic), and the first book of the Bible to be printed in an eastern language other than Hebrew. The editor was a German clergyman and papal protonotary, and he 'describes in his preface how he had heard Ethiopian strangers in Rome reciting sacred hymns, in which he recognized the names of the Blessed Virgin, the Apostles and certain Saints. Aroused by curiosity he determined to learn Ethiopic - which he calls lingua Chaldea - and eventually succeeded in mastering enough of the language to enable him to publish this edition in the native character.' (Darlow & Moule).
Provenance: 'Questa Cantica è stata mandata da Genoua dal P. Gabriele di Casale Prouinciale de Capucini, anno 1606. mensis Nouemb' (ink inscription to front pastedown).
Literature: Adams B1481: Darlow & Moule 3560; Fumagalli, Bibliografia Etiopica, p. 353; Smitskamp III, 233.](https://am-s3-bucket-assets.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/forum/prod/lot_images/small/11005f14-9b90-ee11-b864-d4548b6f1f2f/ee4c2496-4f91-ee11-817b-6045bdfc47ac.webp "4
First book printed in Ge'ez.- Bible, Ethiopic.- Psalterium David et Cantica aliqua, edited by Johann Potken, collation: [1-128, 13-146], 108 ff., printed in red and black, Ethiopic and Roman type, first f. recto with a full-page woodcut in red showing a seated King David playing a harp within a decorative border signed 'S.C.', woodcut knotwork head-pieces, headings and initials in red, marginal repair to first and last ff., water-stained (mostly at start), some mostly light spotting and finger-marking, attractive contemporary ?French ornately blind-stamped calf over boards, sympathetically rebacked, remains of ties, corners little worn, rubbed, 4to (225 x 160mm.), [Rome], [Marcello Silber for Johannes Potken], 1513.
*** Rare copy of the first edition of the first book printed in Ge'ez (or classical Ethiopic), and the first book of the Bible to be printed in an eastern language other than Hebrew. The editor was a German clergyman and papal protonotary, and he 'describes in his preface how he had heard Ethiopian strangers in Rome reciting sacred hymns, in which he recognized the names of the Blessed Virgin, the Apostles and certain Saints. Aroused by curiosity he determined to learn Ethiopic - which he calls lingua Chaldea - and eventually succeeded in mastering enough of the language to enable him to publish this edition in the native character.' (Darlow & Moule).
Provenance: 'Questa Cantica è stata mandata da Genoua dal P. Gabriele di Casale Prouinciale de Capucini, anno 1606. mensis Nouemb' (ink inscription to front pastedown).
Literature: Adams B1481: Darlow & Moule 3560; Fumagalli, Bibliografia Etiopica, p. 353; Smitskamp III, 233.")
Description
First book printed in Ge'ez.- Bible, Ethiopic.- Psalterium David et Cantica aliqua, edited by Johann Potken, collation: [1-128, 13-146], 108 ff., printed in red and black, Ethiopic and Roman type, first f. recto with a full-page woodcut in red showing a seated King David playing a harp within a decorative border signed 'S.C.', woodcut knotwork head-pieces, headings and initials in red, marginal repair to first and last ff., water-stained (mostly at start), some mostly light spotting and finger-marking, attractive contemporary ?French ornately blind-stamped calf over boards, sympathetically rebacked, remains of ties, corners little worn, rubbed, 4to (225 x 160mm.), [Rome], [Marcello Silber for Johannes Potken], 1513.
⁂ Rare copy of the first edition of the first book printed in Ge'ez (or classical Ethiopic), and the first book of the Bible to be printed in an eastern language other than Hebrew. The editor was a German clergyman and papal protonotary, and he 'describes in his preface how he had heard Ethiopian strangers in Rome reciting sacred hymns, in which he recognized the names of the Blessed Virgin, the Apostles and certain Saints. Aroused by curiosity he determined to learn Ethiopic - which he calls lingua Chaldea - and eventually succeeded in mastering enough of the language to enable him to publish this edition in the native character.' (Darlow & Moule).
Provenance: 'Questa Cantica è stata mandata da Genoua dal P. Gabriele di Casale Prouinciale de Capucini, anno 1606. mensis Nouemb' (ink inscription to front pastedown).
Literature: Adams B1481: Darlow & Moule 3560; Fumagalli, Bibliografia Etiopica, p. 353; Smitskamp III, 233.
Lot 4
First book printed in Ge'ez.- Bible, Ethiopic.- Psalterium David et Cantica aliqua, Rome , Marcello Silber for Johannes Potken, 1513.
Hammer Price: £22,000
Description
First book printed in Ge'ez.- Bible, Ethiopic.- Psalterium David et Cantica aliqua, edited by Johann Potken, collation: [1-128, 13-146], 108 ff., printed in red and black, Ethiopic and Roman type, first f. recto with a full-page woodcut in red showing a seated King David playing a harp within a decorative border signed 'S.C.', woodcut knotwork head-pieces, headings and initials in red, marginal repair to first and last ff., water-stained (mostly at start), some mostly light spotting and finger-marking, attractive contemporary ?French ornately blind-stamped calf over boards, sympathetically rebacked, remains of ties, corners little worn, rubbed, 4to (225 x 160mm.), [Rome], [Marcello Silber for Johannes Potken], 1513.
⁂ Rare copy of the first edition of the first book printed in Ge'ez (or classical Ethiopic), and the first book of the Bible to be printed in an eastern language other than Hebrew. The editor was a German clergyman and papal protonotary, and he 'describes in his preface how he had heard Ethiopian strangers in Rome reciting sacred hymns, in which he recognized the names of the Blessed Virgin, the Apostles and certain Saints. Aroused by curiosity he determined to learn Ethiopic - which he calls lingua Chaldea - and eventually succeeded in mastering enough of the language to enable him to publish this edition in the native character.' (Darlow & Moule).
Provenance: 'Questa Cantica è stata mandata da Genoua dal P. Gabriele di Casale Prouinciale de Capucini, anno 1606. mensis Nouemb' (ink inscription to front pastedown).
Literature: Adams B1481: Darlow & Moule 3560; Fumagalli, Bibliografia Etiopica, p. 353; Smitskamp III, 233.
Related Lots
Back To Auction Catalogue
Newsletter Signup
Keyword Alerts
You can now save your preferences to receive emails, or create a free lite account which gives you more features.
Would you like to receive personalised keyword alerts when new catalogues go live. If so, please indicate these below
Set a password to save your keyword alerts
Passwords are a minimum of 7 characters and must include an upper case letter, a lower case letter, a number and a special character.
Newsletter