Feb 10, 2005 - Sale 2032

Sale 2032 - Lot 29

Price Realized: $ 2,760
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 3,000 - $ 4,000
THE GUN WAD BIBLE (BIBLE IN GERMAN.) Biblia das ist. [1], [2], 992; 280 pages. Thick small 4to, contemporary calf, rebacked, lacks the clasps; lacks the front and rear endpapers, dampstaining affecting the preliminary and terminal leaves, cellotape repairs and resulting staining to the title and first leaf, some paper loss to the title and first leaf with minor text loss to the first leaf, foxing throughout. Germantown: Sauer, 1776

Additional Details



The third bible produced by Sauer (preceded by editions of 1743 and 1763) but perhaps the most famous. Of the 3000 copies printed, many are said to have been destroyed by the British during the Revolution. "At the invasion of Germantown Mr. Sauer fled from the place, and the British troops destroyed nearly all the copies of the Bible, by converting the leaves into litter for their horses, and by using the paper for their cartridges . . . Substantially, the editions of 1763 and 1776 are one and the same"--Wright, page 47; Sabin 5194; Evans 14663; D&M 4240.