Highlights of the Exhibition
The Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Bible Collection
at
Bridwell
Library
1996-2006
September 7-November 18, 2006
Luther’s Translation of the Bible
Biblia, das ist, die gantze Heilige Schrifft deudsch. Translated by
Martin Luther. Wood cuts by Lucas Cranach the Younger and Melchior
Scharzenberg or Martin Schaffner. Wittenberg: Hans Lufft, 1535.
In 1534 Hans Luft printed the first edition of Luther’s entire
translation of the Bible in two volumes. Exhibited here is the second
edition of Biblia, das ist die gantz Heilige Shrifft deudsch.
These large quarto volumes are liberally sprinkled with woodcuts, as
were the earlier editions of the Old and New Testament. These Bibles
circulated widely and went through an abundance of editions, always
priced affordably to place the Word of God in the hands of the people.
When Luft retired in 1572, he estimated that he had printed 100,000
copies of Luther’s translation. This volume is open to an illustration
of Creation.
|