Koberger’s 1483 Illustrated German Bible, Volume One

German Bible.
Nuremberg: Anton Koberger, 17 February 1483.
Volume one of two. (06171)

The majority of the 109 woodcuts used in this Nuremberg edition of the German Bible of 1483 were originally produced in Cologne for the Low German Bible printed by Heinrich Quentell circa 1478. Colored by hand and enhanced with blind-stamped gold leaf, the exhibited woodcut of God creating Eve from Adam’s rib (Genesis 2:22) is encircled by other scenes from the Genesis creation narrative. Most of the illustrations in this edition appear in the Old Testament; with the exception of four introductory portraits of the gospel authors and a series of eight Apocalypse scenes, the New Testament has no other illustration.