The photos of the lot are informative and indicative, and cannot provide a highly detailed view of the object from all angles. We recommend a careful physical inspection of the lot before bidding.
The photos of the lot are informative and indicative, and cannot provide a highly detailed view of the object from all angles. We recommend a careful physical inspection of the lot before bidding.
105. Blaj Bible ("Bible, namely The Divine Scripture of the Old Law and of the New"), 1795, rare piece
Starting price
Pretul de pornire si cel estimat nu sunt preturi de vanzare efective
EUR 1.500
Sold
Pretul de pornire si cel estimat nu sunt preturi de vanzare efective
EUR 6.000
Session
Thu, 5 February 2026 12:00
This fundamental work, also known as Bob's Bible or Clain's Bible, is an exceptional typographic product due to its monumentality and sobriety, and from a philological point of view, the text is written in the most beautiful Romanian language. Samuel Clain, the translator from Greek, worked for about three years on this translation, when he was a prefect of studies at the St. Barbara College in Vienna (1783-1785). It is the second translation of the Holy Scriptures into Romanian, after Şerban Cantacuzino's Bible from 1688, which Samuel Clain also used. The characters are Cyrillic. So, the Bible can be considered as Clain's, because he made the translation. Ioan Bob, the character who gives it its other name, Bob's Bible, was the archbishop of Făgăraş and the supporter of this typographic work. The preserved ownership signs testify the presence of the copy in personal libraries in the second half of the 19th century and the 20th century. An authentic piece, important for the history of old Romanian printing from the end of the 18th century, it presents [10] f. + 894 p. + 246 p., being a complete copy. It features typographic ornaments in the form of engravings, ornate initials, frontispieces, and vignettes. The title page: stamps “Biblioteca Particulară a Pr. Sak. M. I. Bogos No. 409/1940” and “Biblioteca Personală George Marin Bogos. Nihil Sine Deo” (repeating on other pages). Force 2: “Iliescu [...]”. The front guard sheet 1r: handwritten notes datable in the second half of the 19th century (1852, 1860, 1861, 1863, 1865, 1867, 1869, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874) without historical importance. In the second part (p. 30-31) we find a series of handwritten notes mentioning the years of birth, marriage, or death of some people who - probably - owned the volume: Maria Georgescu (b. September 23, 1893), Ruxand Georgescu (married on November 3, 1891), Dumitra Iliescu (d. September 25, 1905), Eugenia I. Georgescu (d. November 27, 1898), Petru I. Georgescu (d. September 24, 1899), Ioan G. Georgescu (d. August 6, 1899). P. 246 (second numbering): handwritten note without historical importance. The volume's binding is made from wooden boards covered in leather. The covers are decorated with frames from lines, filled with floral ornaments, on cover 1 we find a medallion with the scene of the Crucifixion. On the spine, between the cords and in their area, there are floral and vegetable ornaments; elements of the locks are preserved.
Dimensions
width 25 cm, height 38 cm
Research information
BRV II, p. 595
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For clarifications regarding the bidding procedure, hammer price costs, guarantee, payment, and collection terms for the winning lot, we recommend carefully reading/re-reading the Bidding Regulations.
For additional information regarding the lot and the auction, please contact the Art Consultants Department.
Detalii
This fundamental work, also known as Bob's Bible or Clain's Bible, is an exceptional typographic product due to its monumentality and sobriety, and from a philological point of view, the text is written in the most beautiful Romanian language. Samuel Clain, the translator from Greek, worked for about three years on this translation, when he was a prefect of studies at the St. Barbara College in Vienna (1783-1785). It is the second translation of the Holy Scriptures into Romanian, after Şerban Cantacuzino's Bible from 1688, which Samuel Clain also used. The characters are Cyrillic. So, the Bible can be considered as Clain's, because he made the translation. Ioan Bob, the character who gives it its other name, Bob's Bible, was the archbishop of Făgăraş and the supporter of this typographic work. The preserved ownership signs testify the presence of the copy in personal libraries in the second half of the 19th century and the 20th century. An authentic piece, important for the history of old Romanian printing from the end of the 18th century, it presents [10] f. + 894 p. + 246 p., being a complete copy. It features typographic ornaments in the form of engravings, ornate initials, frontispieces, and vignettes. The title page: stamps “Biblioteca Particulară a Pr. Sak. M. I. Bogos No. 409/1940” and “Biblioteca Personală George Marin Bogos. Nihil Sine Deo” (repeating on other pages). Force 2: “Iliescu [...]”. The front guard sheet 1r: handwritten notes datable in the second half of the 19th century (1852, 1860, 1861, 1863, 1865, 1867, 1869, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874) without historical importance. In the second part (p. 30-31) we find a series of handwritten notes mentioning the years of birth, marriage, or death of some people who - probably - owned the volume: Maria Georgescu (b. September 23, 1893), Ruxand Georgescu (married on November 3, 1891), Dumitra Iliescu (d. September 25, 1905), Eugenia I. Georgescu (d. November 27, 1898), Petru I. Georgescu (d. September 24, 1899), Ioan G. Georgescu (d. August 6, 1899). P. 246 (second numbering): handwritten note without historical importance. The volume's binding is made from wooden boards covered in leather. The covers are decorated with frames from lines, filled with floral ornaments, on cover 1 we find a medallion with the scene of the Crucifixion. On the spine, between the cords and in their area, there are floral and vegetable ornaments; elements of the locks are preserved.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For clarifications regarding the bidding procedure, hammer price costs, guarantee, payment, and collection terms for the winning lot, we recommend carefully reading/re-reading the Bidding Regulations.
For additional information regarding the lot and the auction, please contact the Art Consultants Department.
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