The Book of 2 Kings
Coloured initials added by hand after printing.
Giorgio Arrivabene was born in Canneto, a small village near Mantua, some time in the middle decades of the fifteenth century. Little is known about him until his arrival in Venice, when his name first appeared alongside those of Bernardo Benali and Paganino Paganini on the title page of a Roman missal printed in December 1483.
Arrivabene began to publish on his own account in October 1487, presumably from his own premises. From then on, he printed approximately sixty independent editions, most of which were concerned with jurisprudence and theology. He published a particularly beautiful and elegant edition of the works of Virgil in 1489.
Verso: Two columns of Latin text printed in black in a gothic font on watermarked laid paper. One four-line initial ‘F’ in blue with extremely fine pink penwork embellishments extending into the margin. One three-line initial ‘I’ in red. Heading ‘Regum II”
Recto: As Verso, with one three-line blue initial ‘P’ beginning Chapter 31 of 1 Kings..
Printer: Georgius Arrivabenus.
Origin: Venice.
Date: February 27, 1488.
Content: The text on Verso, beginning with the decorated initial ‘F’ reads:
Factum est autem postquam mortuus est Saul ut David reverteretur a caede Amalech et maneret in Siceleg dies duosin die autem tertia apparuit homo veniens de castris Saul veste conscissa et pulvere aspersus caput et ut venit ad David cecidit super faciem suam et adoravit.
(Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent , and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.)
Condition: This leaf is in excellent condition, sharply printed and with original margins all round. The coloured initials remain bright and unfaded. There is a small, light stain in the upper outside corner. The leaf is unconditionally guaranteed genuine.
Size: Leaf: approx. 215x160 mm. Printed area : approx. 185x120mm. Please note that shipping is invoiced separately.
Notes: 1 and 2 Samuel were originally (and, in most Jewish bibles, still are) a single book, but the first Greek translation, called the Septuagint, produced around the second century BC, divided it into two. In imitation of the Septuagint what is now commonly known as 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel, are called by the Vulgate, 1 Kings and 2 Kings respectively.
References: Goff B-586, Gesamtkatalog der Wiegendrucke 4263, Bod-inc B-295, Undorf 742
Item No: PSA 188
