Extraordinary copy of the first edition, published by Moretus (Moerentorf) & Van Keerberghen, of the famous Moerentorf Bible in the vernacular Dutch language, printed in 1599, especially interesting for its vivid contemporary hand-colouring and for its richly blind-tooled contemporary binding. The authoritative Moerentorf Bible or Moretus Bible, was a revision of the 1548 Louvain Bible in Dutch, but corrected based on the improved Latin Vulgate of 1592 published by the authority of Pope Clement VIII. The Moerentorf Bible met extraordinary success and "became the standard Bible for Dutch Roman Catholics" (Darlow & Moule) for almost three centuries, being repeatedly reprinted as the official Dutch translation of the Vulgate in the Low Countries.
Jan Moerentorf, better known as Jan I Moretus, published this revised Dutch translation of the Old and New Testament together in 1599 with the title Biblia sacra. The first woodcut of the Old Testament, in Genesis, is signed "P.B" by Peter van der Borcht, a Flemish painter, draughtsman and etcher who was full-time assistant to Christopher Plantin and illustrated many of his liturgical works. The other woodcut illustrations in the Old Testament are copied from the engraved print series of the German painter and printmaker Hans Sebald Beham (1500-1550), who was especially known for his very small engravings. The present edition appeared in two issues, one with the imprint of Moretus alone and the present one with the imprint of both Moretus and Van Keerberghen. Poortman shows a completely different first woodcut illustration (not signed P.B.) for the Moretus version, says its other illustrations are printed from a different series of blocks, differing in detail and rendering the scenes in mirror image, and also notes differences in the orthography.
With the bookplate (on the front paste-down) and library stamp (on a free endleaf, the back of the title-page, and the first text page) of Wetenschappelijke Bibliotheek Eindhoven, the former monastic library of the Augustinian monastery in Eindhoven and one of the most important scholarly theological libraries of the Netherlands. Also with one contemporary annotation on Pp1 of the Old Testament.
Binding slightly worn around the edges, especially around the spine, edges a little dust-soiled and some damage to the back board where the leather fastenings were originally attached to the boards with brass pins. Minor marginal stains, spots and dust-soiling, mostly in the first part, and a few creases throughout the book, a small tear in the right lower corner of Oo6 in the Old Testament (not affecting the text), a larger tear (partly restored) and restoration in the foot margin in L6 of the Old Testament. The colouring of the initials and woodcuts has slightly browned the paper. Overall, however, the Bible is in good condition. A beautiful copy of one of the most important Dutch Bibles ever published, here in a richly blind-tooled contemporary binding and complete with all the illustrations coloured by a contemporary hand. Belgica typographica 1541-1600, 473 & 7886; Biblia Sacra 1599.B.dut.JM1.A; Bibliotheca Catholica Neerlandica impressa 4529; BM STC Dutch, p. 24; Darlow & Moule 3300; Dirk Imhof, Jan Moretus and the continuation of the Plantin press (1589-1610), B-36B; Pettegree, Netherlandish Books 3891; Poortman, Bijbel en prent I, and pp. 131-133, 217; STCV 12923651; USTC 402496; not in Adams.