Bible

1738 · ST20149 — Zürich: David Geßner 1738. 162 x 88 mm. 6 3/8 x 3 1/2". 272 pp.; 192 pp.; 8 leaves; 64 pp. <br/> BEAUTIFUL ENGRAVED STEEL FILIGREE OVER BLACK VELVET each cover with swirling foliage studded with 37 pointed bosses and four oblique lozenge bosses at corners smooth spine in a similar design with nine studs binding with a total of 83 sharp studs two fore-edge clasps one broken off. Housed in a brown buckram chamois-lined chemise and matching slipcase. New Testament with extra engraved title page with image of St. John his eagle and a lamb printer's device on printed title tailpiece at end of text; Psalms with extra engraved title page depicting David with his harp printed title with small vignette of the same scene; Festivals with engraved title page showing the Last Supper. Nap of velvet mostly gone except down the middle of the spine endpapers and the edges of first and last few leaves with numerous small rust spots apparently caused by the covers' metal frame and studs otherwise fine inside and out. An excellent example of a very unusual binding.<br/> <br/> With distinguished provenance this is a dramatic binding that makes a memorable display with engraved and pierced steel strapwork forming a lace-like pattern studded with faceted bosses that at first glance appear to be gems. Our volume has a general resemblance to the best of the small silver bindings produced during the Baroque period; its wonderfully executed foliate scrolls are reminiscent of a German binding described and pictured as item #15 in Hayward's "Silver Bindings from the J. R. Abbey Collection." However we have been unable to locate another example that strongly resembles ours. While not silver it is nevertheless a luxury binding--the engraving with its exquisite detail was done by a skilled hand and the materials themselves would have come at a price since before the Bessemer process of the 1850s steel was difficult to produce and consequently expensive. We do not know for whom this remarkable binding was originally made but we do know that it has more recently resided in two important American collections. Prior to 1955 it was in the library of Saul Cohn whose collection was sold at Parke-Bernet on April 26 of that year this was lot #67. Following that it was part of the illustrious collection of Cincinnati businessman arborist and philanthropist Cornelius J. Hauck 1893-1967 whose fortune was made in the family brewery; the auction of his library at Christie's in 2006 totaled more than $12.4 million this was lot #362 selling for $3120. David Geßner unknown