THE CHRISTIAN IV BIBLE - THE THIRD AND LAST OF THE GREAT DANISH FOLIO BIBLES

BIBLIA DANICA

Biblia Det er Den gantske Hellige Scrifft paa Danske igien offuerseet oc Prentet effter vor allernaadigste Herris oc Kongis K. Christian den IV. Befaling. Mett Register/ alle D. Lutheri Fortaler ghans Udledning i Brædden oc Viti Theodori Summarier. Cum Gratia et Privilegio. (Three parts).

Kiøbenhaffn, (Melchior Martzan og Salomon Sartor), (1632-) 1633.

Folio. Bound in a splendid recent full calf pastish binding with five raised bands. Gilt floral ornamentation to spine and boards ruled in gilt. End-papers renewed. First 10 leaves with marginal repairs. A few leaves in the New Testament (last part) closely trimmed in upper margin, occassionally touchly text. Last 10 leaves with marginal repairs. Internally with occassional miscolouring and brownspotting, but an overall nice copy. 
Engraved title-page and the engraved portrait of Christian IV, all by the royal engraver Simon the Pas. Without the half-title, which merely contains the printed words "BIBLIA / Paa Danske", which is almost never present. (21 - not counting the engraved title-page and the portrait), 353 (i.e. 354 due to the erroneous double pagination 353), 226, 159 ff.   


A nice copy of the scarce first edition of the last (i.e. the third) of the Danish folio-bibles, known as "Christian IV's Bible", being a slightly revised edition of the Bible of 1589 (Frederik II's Bible). Christian IV is the most famous Danish king ever to have lived, and the Christian IV bible is extremely sought-after. The numerous woodcut illustrations are the same that were used for the Frederik II's Bibel from 1589. The four engraved leaves - the portrait and the three title-pages - are by Simon de Pas.

Despite already having two beautiful folio-bibles, Denmark's supply of Bibles was insufficient for the nation's needs. In many parishes only the church had a copy, with a few more in the homes of the wealthy. This shortage was particularly severe in Norway due to its distance from the capital, which limited the benefits of initiatives from the King.

Funds were raised from churches in Zealand and Norway, with Norway contributing generously. 

Two printers, Melchior Martzan and Salomon Sartor, were employed, with Martzan overseeing corrections and sales. Norwegian churches' significant contributions were rewarded with copies equivalent to their donations, while Zealand's lesser contributions received no compensation.

Biblioteca Danica I, 9.
Thesaurus II, 378.
Birkelund, 41.
Darlow and Moule, 3160.

Order-nr.: 61362

DKK 60.000,00