Gutenberg Bible (Pelplin Gutenberg Bible). Pelplin, Biblioteka Seminarium Duchownego, Hub. 28. Bernardinum Wydawnictwo, 2004. The two-volume Latin Bible, purchased by Reverend Chrapicki, Bishop of Chelmno (1496-1508), was donated to the Franciscan friars of the Lubawa Order (Poland). Immediately before World War II, the Pelplin Bible was in danger of being lost forever, but was saved by Reverend Liedtke, who managed to protect it in a leather suitcase and then hide it in Paris, along with other treasures belonging to the diocese. Shortly before German troops invaded the French capital, the Polish treasure was taken to London and then to Canada.Kept in a vault at the Bank of Montreal in Ottawa, it was not returned to Poland until 1959 along with other the treasures of the Pelplin diocese, and is currently housed in the Museum of the Pelplin Diocese.
This facsimile of the original Pelplin Bible contains the Latin text of the Holy Scriptures in the translation of St. Jerome and commentaries and prologues taken from the Vulgate. Of the 149 illuminated initials, the most beautiful is undoubtedly the first letter F - from the Prologue by St. Jerome "Frater Ambrosius" - decorated with red filigree and gilded with 24-carat gold leaf and blue ink.
On permanent loan from The Władysław Poniecki Charitable Foundation.
