This rare small-format Latin Bible was printed in Cologne in 1670 by Balthasar ab Egmond & Company, one of the most respected Catholic publishers of the 17th century, and distributed in Paris by François Léonard.
The engraved title page depicts two Old Testament figures standing beside an armillary sphere, framed by a host of angels and ornate Baroque decoration — a perfect reflection of the post-Reformation Catholic revival of sacred art and printing.
Containing the Books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, the Four Books of Kings, and Chronicles, this volume represents the Historical Books of the Clementine Vulgate, the definitive Latin Bible text authorized by the Church after the Council of Trent.
Details: • Printed: Coloniae Agrippinae (Cologne), 1670 • Publisher: Balthasar ab Egmond et Sociorum • Distributed in: Paris, apud Fr. Leonard • Language: Latin (Clementine Vulgate) • Content: Books of Joshua through Chronicles • Format: Small octavo, portable clerical Bible • Engraving: Finely detailed Baroque copper engraving on title page
A remarkable 17th-century artifact that bridges faith, art, and history — each page a tangible witness to the enduring legacy of the Latin Scriptures in post-Tridentine Europe.
