Biblical Printing Through the Ages

This month in Special Collections we are looking at the varied output of all things biblical, and on display this week in the reading room are items from the C15th and C16th.

One of the rare incunabula in Special Collections is this Bible commentary by Nicholas of Lyra (approximately 1270-1349), printed in this instance by the famed Nuremberg Chronicle printer Anton Koberger (approximately 1440-1513). Its volumes are peppered with vignettes and larger illustrations attributed to Lyra himself, such as this image from Third Book of Kings.

Prima pars Lyre-Quarta pars Lyre. (Exactú est Nuremberge : Anthonii Kobergers, Anno incarnate deitatis 1497 die vero sexta septembris)

From the C16th, we have this polyglot edition of Psalms printed by the gifted and learned Sebastianus Gryphius (1493-1556) in Lyon.

Psalterivm sextvplex : Hebraevm, cum tribus Latinis. (Bat Lvgvdvni : Seb. Gryphivs excvde, 1530)

Also from the C16th, we have this curious and extensively marked anonymous collection of sermons in Latin.

Sermones parati: de tempore et de sanctis. (Paris : François Regnault, 1518)

If you would like to view the Biblical Printing through the Ages exhibition, or consult any item from the St. Anthony's, Henry Library or King's Inns collections, please contact the staff of the Special Collections Reading Room in the Hardiman Research Building at specialcollections@nuigalway.ie.

The spotlight exhibition can also be viewed in its entirety on the digital display wall in the Hardiman Foyer during the month of December.