BIBLIA, das ist Die ganze Heilige Schrift Alten und Neuen Testaments, Aus den Grundsprachen treulich wol verteutschet; aufs neue und mit Fleiss übersehen ... und herausgegeben von Johann Caspar Ulrich. 2 vols.

Zurich, Conrad Orell and Comp., 1755-56. With 2 engr. figured frontispieces and 1 large head-piece by Johann Rudolf Holzhalb; inserted are 150 and 100 num. engr. plates by Weigel after Luyken from his "Celebriores Veteris (Novi) Testamenti iconibus" (1712). 8 leaves, 22 pp. "Heilsamer Unterricht", 6 leaves index, 292, 130 pp., 1 leaf, 146 (recte 144) pp.; title, 182, 66, 118 pp., 371 pp.. Folio. Contemp. calf, spines in 6 compartments with 2 labels (some skilful repairs to corners and spine ends, somewhat rubbed). Zurich, Conrad Orell and Comp., 1755-56. First edition of the so-called "Ulrich-Bibel", an important new version of the Zurich bible. The editor was pastor at Grossmüster and was close to Pietism. This edition is one of the most carefully edited Bibles and comes with regard to the beauty of the printing close to that of Froschauer's publication. The text is based on the 1667 and 1724 editions; it was revised and adapted to the more wide-spread use of modern high German. Johann Caspar Ulrich (1705-1768) was in charge, under the supervision of the Church Council. In the "Kurze Anzeige" at the beginning, Johann Konrad Nüscheler gives a bibliography of Zurich bibles. Together with Johann Rudolf Ziegler, he was also involed in the text revision. Illustrations were not originally planned, but since many buyers regretted the lack of images as they were used in the Froschauer bibles, so the publisher offered illustrations separately for sale, which are often different to those in this present copy. The two pompous frontispieces by J. H. Holzhalb and the large head-piece to the dedication are original parts of the edition. In addition, this copy is embellished with the engravings of Christian Weigel after Jan and Caspar Luyken, originally published at Nuremberg as a plate work, mounted and inserted. Each plate bears a four-line Latin and German epigram by the poet Samuel Faber (1657-1716) beneath the image. - Lacking Weigel's engr. title and plate 37 in the Old Testament, and plates 101-108 in the New Testament. - Old name on flyleaf in vol. II, occasional light browning or foxing, some thumbing in margins, on the whole a very nice set. - Lüthi, Bibel in der Schweiz, 15 (2 incomplete copies); Mezger 258f. (in detail); Bibelsammlung Würt. LB, E 1475; Leemann-van Elck, Buchschmuck der Zürcher Bibeln, 100f.; the same, Bibelsammlung im Grossmünster, 36; not in Darlow/Moule. BIBLES ; BIBELN, RELIGION ;