AUTHOR: ILLUMINATOR BERTHOLD FURTMEYR

LANGUAGE: MIDDLE HIGH GERMAN

DATE: 1465-1499

PAGE #: 785

REPRODUCTION DIMENSIONS: 11.75 X 7.75 IN

HISTORY/DESCRIPTION: THE FURTMEYR BIBLE IS A GERMAN BIBLE ADORNED BY THE REGENSBURG RENAISSANCE PAINTER BERTHOLD FURTMEYR (ACTIVE 1460–1501). IT CONTAINS, FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT, THE BOOKS FROM GENESIS TO RUTH. AFTER ILLUMINATING THE SO-CALLED LONDON BIBLE, HIS OLDEST SURVIVING MASTERPIECE, FURTMEYR BEGAN DECORATING WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS THE FURTMEYR BIBLE, BETWEEN 1465 AND 1470. FURTMEYR, AND HIS DISCIPLES, CREATED THREE FULL-PAGE MINIATURES: ONE PORTRAYING THE DONATORS AND THEIR FAMILIES, ANOTHER DEPICTING THE VIRGIN MARY BREAST-FEEDING JESUS. THERE IS ALSO A VERY STRIKING “LIVING CROSS” THAT COMES AT THE END OF THE BOOK. THE MANUSCRIPT CAME INTO THE POSSESSION OF DUKE ALBERT IV OF BAVARIA, AND THE MUNICH COURT LIBRARY, BUT WAS CARRIED OFF IN THE SWEDISH INVASION OF GERMANY, DURING THE THIRTY YEARS WAR (1618-48). THE FURTMEYR BIBLE FINALLY RETURNED TO THE SUCCESSOR, TO ITS ORIGINAL HOME, THE PRESENT-DAY BAVARIAN STATE LIBRARY, IN 1960.

REPRODUCTION DETAILS: OUR HARDCOVER BOOKS ARE MADE WITH REAL WOOD FOR THE INTERIOR OF THE FRONT AND BACK COVERS AS WELL AS THE SPINE. THE LEATHER IS A 4 OZ COWHIDE, FROM A SMALL SUPPLIER IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE LEATHER IS ADHERED TO THE COVERS WITH GLUE AND MOLDED INTO THE SHAPE AT THE HAND OF OUR LOCAL ARTISANS. THE SIGNATURES/PAGES ARE HANDSEWN USING A LIBRARY BINDING METHOD. THE SEWN BOOK IS BOUND WITH A STRONG ADHESIVE GLUE THAT MAKES THE BINDINGS LAST, ESPECIALLY FOR THE LARGER BOOKS. WE ALSO ADD A THICK MULL CLOTH TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE BINDING, DRYING IN BETWEEN EACH LAYER, A TRADITIONAL WAY TO MAKE THE BINDING STIFF, STRONG, AND RESILIENT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

NOTE: ALL OF OUR FACSIMILES ARE MADE TO ORDER. PLEASE ALLOW 4-6 WEEKS FOR NOTIFICATION OF SHIPMENT.