Beschreibung:

BIBLE, in Hungarian -- Szent Biblia, az az Istennec Ô es Wy Testamentumanac Prophétác es Apostoloc által meg iratott szent koenyuei . Edited by Gáspár Károlyi (c.1530-91). Vizsoly: Bálint Mantskovit, 18 February 1589 - 20 July 1590. 3 parts in one volume, 2° and 4° [quires II:y-z] (292 x 195mm). Collation: I: )( 8 A-Z 6 Aa-Zz 6 Aaa-Zzz 6 Aaaaa-Xxxxx 6 Yyyyy 8 ( )(1 title, contents, )(2r editor's preface, )(8v To the reader, A1r Genesis-Ecclesiastes); [blank leaf] π 1 (title, verso blank) A-Z 6 a-z 6 (Isaiah-Maccabees, without z6 [blank?]); AA-ZZ 6 Aaa-Ppp 6 qqq 8 (AA1r title, AA1v contents, AA2r New Testament, qqq8r colophon, printer's device, verso blank), folding genealogical table inserted before New Testament. 964; 276 (of 277, without ?blank II: z6); 236 leaves. First title printed in red and black, type-ornament border to all title-pages, armorial device on first title, printer's device at end of pts. I and III and on title of pt. III, headpiece and ornamental initial opening each book, tailpieces. Roman type, shoulder notes in italics. Double columns, shoulder notes. (Title and second leaf somewhat worn, fraying with some loss of shoulder notes in about 30 leaves, mostly at beginning and end, marginal tears in about 45 lvs., 17 lvs. with neat tears into text, 6 lvs. torn with slight loss, small holes in two lvs. affecting a few letters, repaired tears in genealogical table, occasional staining and browning, last 3 lvs. strengthened at hinges, last leaf laid down.) 17th-century dark brown leather over bevelled wooden boards, sides panelled with double fillets, narrow heads-in-medallion roll and foliate roll, spine in seven compartments, double cords outlined with fillets, chased brass corner and centre-pieces, one (of two) fore-edge clasp remaining (later endleaves, missing catchplates, scuffed, some cracking, leather around clasp on lower cover worn, slight damage to bosses, a few old repairs). Provenance : Gáspár Györ, pastor at Rozgony, Hungary [now Rozhanovice, Slovak Republic] (purchase inscription dated 1591 on first and second titles crossed through) -- Georgius Literatus Zolnai (title inscription dated 1618, confession on verso of second title, other annotations) -- [annotations in several hands in Latin and Hungarian, including a lengthy quote from Martin Luther on Isaiah and one dated Rozgony, 1669] -- Petrus Viczai, 1713 (title inscription) -- L.G. (?18th-century initials stamped on title and A1r) -- later rubberstamp removed from first title. FIRST EDITION OF THE COMPLETE BIBLE IN HUNGARIAN. Preceded in print only by parts of the Bible in Hungarian, the Vizsoly Bible (so called after its place of printing) established the text of the Protestant Bible for Hungary. It was translated by Gáspár Károlyi, sometimes called the 'Tyndale of Hungary', and probably at least 3 other anonymous scholars. It retains its authority to the present day; over 293 complete or partial subsequent editions were recorded by Károly Erdos in 1940. It was Károlyi's version -- albeit continuously and even significantly amended -- which was read by many of the greatest Hungarian writers, such as János Arany and Endre Ady, of succeeding centuries; 'it has influenced Hungarian language, poetry, and literature more than any other work' ( Oxford Encyclo. of the Reformation ). Its publication was also an act of Hungarian nationalism. Not only was central and southern Hungary under Ottoman rule, but Protestantism had become identical with nascent nationalism, and the Catholic Church attempted to extirpate both. It was printed in north-central Hungary at Vizsoly, a safe area under the protection of sympathetic magnates, by Bálint Mantskovit (d.1597), himself an active proponent of the Calvinist cause. He had previously worked for the fiery Lutheran minister, poet, and printer, Péter Bornemisza (1535-84). Károlyi was a Calvinist clergyman educated at Wittenberg, who spent much of his life organising the Calvinist church in northern and eastern