The Kerver press was less celebrated for its Bibles than for liturgical works, and for the books of private devotion (Horae, Heures) of which Brunet (Manuel, v, col. 1614-27) enumerates no less than fifty-six, printed by Thielmann, his widow, or his sons, between 1497 and 1571.  The wood-engravings with which they were illustrated were repeated in the successive editions and occasionally also in the Bibles.  Two of these borrowed cuts are found in the present edition, facing the Old and the New Testament.  The first represents the Expulsion from the Garden, but the verse printed underneath (Gen. ii. 7) calls for the Creation of Adam, which in Yolande’s editions of 1526 and 1534 is actually present, while here another engraving has been substituted, but the verse left standing.  Facing the New Testament, under the heading Jesu Christi secundum carnem genealogia, is a genealogical tree springing from “the root of Jesse.”

Following the usual alphabetical order of the signatures (A-Z, aaa-eee), the Index rerum et sententiarum (sign.  U-Z) is here placed before the Interpretationes (sign. aaa-eee).  This is contrary to the direction of the Collectio codicum found on the last leaf of the Index (Z6), where the order prescribed is A-T, aaa-eee, U-Z, which is further supported by the colophon and printer’s device on Z6.  The Index as the latest supplement was meant to stand at the end of the volume.

Bound in oak boards covered with stamped leather, brass corners and bosses, gilt gauffred edges.  Around the central boss of the back cover is stamped the date A.D. 1571, and on the front cover, in corresponding position and order, the initials F E P L P F.

From the Osterley Park sale, May, 1885, with the book-plate of Victor Albert George Child Villiers, Earl of Jersey.  Leaf 6-1/2 x 4-1/2 in.

36.  PHILO JUDAEUS.  De divinis decem oraculis.  Lutetiae, apud Carolum Stephanum, 1554.

TITLE:  Philonis Iudaei DE DIVINIS DECEM oraculis, quae summa sunt legum capita Liber, Iohanne Vaeuraeo interprete. [Printer’s device] LVTETIAE, Apud Carolum Stephanum, Typographum Regium.  M.D.LIIII.

Octavo. 72 numbered pages, followed by one leaf Ad lectorem and one blank.  Pp. 3-6, dedication by the translator to Charles de Guise, Cardinal de Lorraine, Archbishop of Reims, to whom was also dedicated the first edition of the works of Philo in Greek, printed by Turnebus, Paris 1552.  Printed on vellum.  On p. 7 a beautiful seven-line engraved initial R. The device is that chosen by the printer’s brother Robert, the olive tree and the motto Noli altum sapere, without the addition sed time.

Renouard, Annales de l’impr. des Estienne, 2^e ed., p. 106; adds to his description of the volume the following note:  “Dedie au cardinal de Lorraine, pour lequel il en fut tire sur velin un exemplaire que depuis l’on a vu relie en maroq. jaune ancien,