Folio (40,3 x 27,5 cm), [1], [3 blank], [28], 679 [= 595], [1 blank], 130 pp, engraved architectural title page (Hebrew, Greek and Latin), The contents are parts of the Old Testament, namely: Esdras, Nehemias, Esdras III-IV (only Latin text) ; Tobias, Judith, Esther, Job, Psalterium, Proverbia, Ecclesiastes, Canticum Canticorum, Liber Sapientiae, Ecclesiasticus. Typographical disposition: on even pages Hebrew text with the Latin Vulgata-translation, underneath the Chaldaic (=Aramaic) paraphrase (in Hebrew type) ; on uneven pages Greek text with the Latin translation, underneath the Latin translation of the Aramaic paraphrase. Some parts without Chaldaic or Aramaic : Tobias, Judith, Liber Sapientiae, Ecclesiasticus. Lacking final blank, upper margins repaired in pp. 635-672 (no text loss), a few wormholes repaired in the last 10 lvs, otherwise in very good condition. Marbled calf binding, rubbed, spine damaged (hinges torn but repaired), corners worn
Ref. Voet, I, 644 III ; Darlow-Moule 1422 ; Adams B-970 ; BT 436. Plantin' Polyglot Bible in five languages may considered to be the largest typographical enterprise of the 16th century. Plantin's Polyglot Bible, also known as the Royal Polyglot or the Antwerp Polyglot, is the second of the great Polyglots. Its model was the first, the Complutensian Polyglot, but with many corrections and the addition of the Syriac text. Benedictus Arias Montanus, specialized in Oriental languages, was the leading force of the gigantic enterprise. Provenance : Bibl. Villarianae, Jacob Hacke (ms. on title-page)
