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212 - The Bible (Աստուածաշունչ) Venice, published by Abbé Mékhitar…
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Estimate €5,000 - €9,000
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Description
The Bible (Աստուածաշունչ) Venice, published by Abbé Mékhitar de Sébaste, printed by Antonio Bortoli, 1733. Small folio (24.2 x 14.2 cm). Frontispiece (pastedown), 3 leaves, title page, 1280 pages (= 1290 pages). Numerous marginal references. 156 wood-engraved vignettes. The text is decorated with initials, headbands and endpapers. Double-column pages except for the preface, which is single-column. Pagination in Armenian letters and Arabic numerals. A fine copy. Library stamps. Moisture stains, especially in the inner margin, a few finger marks in the lower corner and a few leaves with marginal repairs. Bound in contemporary calf. Boards with gilt ornamentation and ornate spine. Binding shows some acceptable wear, lightly rubbed and edgeworn, top board split. First Armenian Bible printed in Venice thanks to the efforts of Mekhitar vardapet of Sebaste, founder of the Mekhitarist order. According to the preface, this edition of the Bible, comprising the Old and New Testaments, was carefully based on the Amsterdam edition of 1666. It is printed on high-quality paper, with refined illustrations and elegant typography. This is the third complete edition of the Armenian Bible, following on from the Amsterdam edition of 1666 and the Constantinople edition of 1705. Initially, the community founded by Abbot Mekhitar of Sebaste used outside printers for its books. A few years later, it acquired its own typographic equipment. However, until 1794, the Mekhitarists were obliged to inscribe the name of their previous publisher, Antonio Bortoli, as is the case for this edition.
See original version (French)
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About the sale ANA AND JAMES MELIKIAN COLLECTION - PART II
Auction location
Auction time 06/21/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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