The Luther Bible of 1534

by Anonymous (Introduction), Martin Luther (Translator), Stephan Fussel (Introduction)

Martin Luther's Bible, first printed in 1534, was not only a milestone for the printing press, but also a momentous event in world history. A UNESCO world heritage masterpiece, Luther's translation from Hebrew and ancient Greek into German made the Bible accessible to laypeople for the first time and gave printed reference to a whole new branch of Christian faith Protestantism.

In this meticulous two-volume reprint, TASCHEN presents both the Old and New Testaments of Luther's landmark publication. Based on a precious copy of the original and printed in color, it reveals the multilayered splendor of this bible, showcasing the meticulous script, elaborate initials, and exquisite color woodcuts from the workshop of Lucas Cranach.

Stephan Fussel, director of the Institute for Book Sciences at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, adds his expertise to the publication with detailed descriptions of the illustrations, as well as an introduction exploring Luther's life and the seismic significance of his bible.

Genres: Religion, Art

1920 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1534

About the author

Books can be attributed to "Anonymous" for several reasons:

* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author

Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.

See also: Anonymous

Reviews

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s highly unlikely I’m going to read this in German and in the medieval gothic font. But this is a beautiful book and fascinating just to look at. I got it for the beauty of the script and the engravings, but also because this is the book that started the Protestant revolution and, for all intents and purposes, created the German language as we know it today. It is the equivalent to English speaking people of both the King James Bible and Shakespeare.

This is obviously for a book lover and someone interested in books of historical importance. There are many other printings of Luther’s Bible if you want something easier to read.