PrincetonUniversity
 

Princeton to display first four printed Bibles, May 31

In a one-day display Friday, May 31, Princeton University will exhibit the world's first four printed Bibles: the Gutenberg Bible, the Mentelin Bible, the 36-Line Bible and the 1462 Bible. The rare books are owned by William H. Scheide, who houses the collection in the Scheide Library at Firestone.

The Bibles will be on display from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the lobby of Firestone Library. Princeton President Shirley M. Tilghman will make remarks about 11 a.m.

Scheide, a Princeton resident and Princeton University alumnus, is only the third private collector to own all four Bibles, following King George III and the second Earl Spencer, the great-great-great-grandfather of the late Diana, Princess of Wales. A passionate bibliophile and musicologist, Scheide has built on a remarkable book collection begun after the Civil War by his grandfather and continued by his father.

Two of the Bibles were purchased by Scheide's father, John H. Scheide, including the Gutenberg Bible, which was printed in Mainz about 1455-1456 and was the first substantial book to be printed from moveable type in Europe. It is one of 49 surviving copies. One year later, he acquired the 1462 Bible, printed in Mainz by Johann Fust and Peter Schoeffer. This Bible, printed on vellum and with beautiful illumination, is one of about 80 surviving copies.

William Scheide added to the collection with his purchase of the 36-line Bible printed in Bamberg in 1461 or before. Only 14 copies survive, all on paper. He acquired the collection's most recent addition, the Mentelin Bible, last year. Printed by Johann Mentelin in 1460, it was the first book printed in Strasbourg and is one of 28 copies remaining.

The Scheide Library is the only collection in the United States, and one of only six in the world, to own all four of these Bibles. The other owners are public libraries in Europe.

Read the full news release.

Princeton resident and 1936 University alumnus William Scheide (left) and Scheide Librarian Paul Needham recently looked over the world's first four printed Bibles that are to be part of a special one-day display Friday, May 31, at Firestone Library.

photo: Denise Applewhite