Leaf from the Lübeck Bible: The Numbering of the Children of Israel (Numbers 26:51); Imprint: Printed in Lübeck by Steffen Arndes, November 19, 1494

Printer Steffen Arndes German, Lübeck 1450–1519

Artist A-Meister South Netherlandish, active 1492–1494

Date1494

Mediumink on rag paper; hand-colored woodcut

Dimensions14 x 9 7/8 in. (35.6 x 25.1 cm)

ClassificationsBook Arts

Credit LinePurchased with funds from the State of North Carolina

Object number62.1.1/5

On View

Not on view

Label TextThe first European book set with moveable type was the Latin bible, printed by Gutenberg in Mainz (1454/55). Over the seven subsequent decades leading up to the Reformation, culminating in Luther’s landmark translation of the New Testament issued in 1522, eighteen German-language editions of the bible would be published. This leaf is from the Lübeck Bible of 1494, known for the sophistication and sharp definition of its woodcut illustrations. Its language and print quality are also exceptional among pre-Lutheran German bibles.
[L. Humphrey, “The People’s Collection, Reimagined,” 2025]
Provenance[Ferdinand Roten Galleries, Inc., Baltimore, Maryland, 123 W. Mulberry St, Baltimore, Maryland]; NCMA purchase on February 13, 1962.
Published ReferencesJustus Bier, "Early Book Art," North Carolina Museum of Art Calendar of Art Events, (May 1962), mentioned on unnumbered page; also in "Catalogue of Early Book Art," cat. no. 24.

"Acquisitions," North Carolina Museum of Art Bulletin 4, nos. 2 and 3 (Winter-Spring 1964), listed 65.
Exhibition HistoryRaleigh, NC, North Carolina Museum of Art, “Early Book Art,” May 1962, then traveling, cat. no. 24.

Raleigh, NC, North Carolina Museum of Art, "The People's Collection, Reimagined," October 7, 2022–April 24, 2023.

Raleigh, NC, North Carolina Museum of Art, "The People's Collection Reimagined, June 3, 2025-May 19, 2026. Object Rights Statement

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