[GUTENBERG, Johann (d. 1468).] Biblia Latina. [Mainz: Johann Gutenberg and Johann Fust, c.1455.]

A leaf from the Gutenberg Bible, the first substantial book printed with moveable type. The present leaf contains the text of Acts of the Apostles 13.26-15.20, Paul’s sermon at Antioch. It is bound as part of Gabriel Wells’s A Noble Fragment series, which contains leaves from the “Mannheim copy” of the Gutenberg Bible. The present copy has an inscription from A. Edward Newton, who wrote the introductory essay: "This is worthy of a place in any library, I am proud of my part in this venture.” Chalmers Disbound and Dispersed 18; Hain *3031; Needham P18; Goff B-526.

Folio (390 x 285mm). One leaf. 42 lines, double column, Gothic type. 2-line Lombard initials in blue and red, headlines and chapter numbers in alternating red and blue letters, capital strokes in red. Tipped in: A Noble Fragment: Being a leaf of the Gutenberg Bible, with a bibliographical essay by A. Edward Newton. New York: Gabriel Wells, 1921. Dark blue morocco gilt, by Stikeman and Co. Original slipcase (sides detached). Provenance: Maria Elisabeth Augusta von Sulzbach (1721-1794, wife of Carl Theodore, Electoral Prince of the Palatinate, subsequently Electoral Prince of Bavaria) – Mannheim, Hofbibliothek – Munich, Royal Library (their duplicate sale, 1832, sold for 350 guilders) – Robert Curzon, Baron Zouche (1810-1873, and by descent until sold Sotheby's 9 November 1920, lot 70, to:) – Joseph Sabin (sold by him to:) – Gabriel Wells – volume inscribed by A. Edward Newton on 5 October 1938.