A LEAF FROM THE FIRST DATED BIBLE. FROM THE PENTATEUCH, THE FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES, Numbers XXIII, XXIIII, XXV, XXVI by Bible, Leaves of the Bible Füst and Schoeffer; Early Printing - 1462

Mainz: Fust and Schoeffer, 1462. A fine leaf from the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, the books of Moses and the first dated Bible, the Fourth printed Bible (preceded only by: Gutenberg, the 36-line Bible and Mentelin). Using a new type face; type set on a smaller body with more lines to the page. Printed double column, 48 lines per page. With manuscript titles in red and blue, large red and blue chapter numbers and three beautiful large extended initials in red and brown or red and blue, each with fine pen work extending well over 20 lines Folio, A beautiful leaf, very well preserved. A RARE AND IMPORTANT LEAF FROM THE 1462 BIBLE. For all intents and purposes, the earliest obtainable printed Bible leaves after those of the Gutenberg Bible – and these, at a fraction of the cost. This leaf contains some of chapter 23, all of chapters 24 and 25 and some of chapter 26 of NUMBERS. Within these chapters; Balaam still continues to prophesy good things in favour of Israel. The people fall into fornication and idolatry; for which twenty-four thousand are slain. The zeal of Phinees. The people are again numbered by their tribes and families.