VII. Typographical tricks

Της Καινης Διαθηκης Απαντα. Novum Jesu Christi D. N. Testamentum. – Anvers: Christophe Plantin, 1566 [i. e. après 1574]. In-8.

Taking advantage of work completed for the folio Polyglot Bible, Christophe Plantin decided to publish it in separate parts in smaller formats (8° and 24°). The New Testament in Greek in two columns in the octavo format accompanied the Old Testament in Hebrew. The archives of the Plantin firm and the analysis of initials confirm that it was printed in 1574. However, as it was also sold separately, the owners found individual solutions to furnish its own title page to their copy. The identity of the typesetter is unknown. In the absence of large Greek letters, he used roman capitals in the first line of the title and resolved the problem of the sigma by turning a roman capital ‘M’ on its side. He usurped Plantin’s address; the decorative mark of the lily was not his printer’s mark. It remains a mystery why the forged title page carries the date of 1566.

Cultura Fonds: CS 62