Bible. Polyglot

Psalterium in quatuor linguis Hebraea Graeca Chaldaea Latina (ed. Johann Potken). Cologne: [Johann Potken and Johann Soter], 10 June (3. Id. Jun.) 1518



Chancery folio (10¼ x 7¼ in.; 260 x 184 mm). Greek, Roman, Ethiopic Hebrew types; woodcut floral interlace title-border; three woodcut ornamental initals (Latin, Greek, Hebrew) for Psalm 1. collation: a-z^{6, &6; ¶4: 148 leaves, &6 blank and present; title lightly soiled, occasional marginal soiling or tiny stains, small repairs in fore-edges of last two leaves. Eighteenth-century calf, spine richly gilt, gold-stamped red morocco label, red-stained edges; head and foot of spine chipped, corners and edges torn, a few scuff marks.}

Adams B1371; Darlow & Moule 1413; VD16 B3101

Psalterium in quatuor linguis Hebraea Graeca Chaldaea Latina (ed. Johann Potken). Cologne: [Johann Potken and Johann Soter], 10 June (3. Id. Jun.) 1518 Chancery folio (10¼ x 7¼ in.; 260 x 184 mm). Greek, Roman, Ethiopic Hebrew types; woodcut floral interlace title-border; three woodcut ornamental initals (Latin, Greek, Hebrew) for Psalm 1. collation: a-z6, &6; ¶4: 148 leaves, &6 blank and present; title lightly soiled, occasional marginal soiling or tiny stains, small mends in fore-margin of last two leaves. 18th-century calf, spine richly gilt, gold-stamped red morocco label, red-stained edges; head and foot of spine chipped, corners and edges torn, a few scuff marks.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

First edition of this polyglot collection. The editor, Johann Potken, was provost of the collegiate church of St. George in Cologne. His address to the reader states that during his long years in Rome he had learned, despite his age, the Ethiopic language (which he calls Chaldean) from Ethiopic pilgrims to the papal court of Leo X. In fact, while in Rome he had already commissioned an Ethiopic Psalter, with specially cut types, to be printed there by Marcellus Silber, 1513. Potken obviously also knew well the 1516 Genoa Polyglot Psalter: the title-border of the Cologne edition is closely modelled on the Genoa border. Quire ¶⁴ is a brief grammar of Hebrew, Greek, and Ethiopic: "Introductiunculae in tres linguas externas, Hebraeam Graecam Chaldaeam."