Bound in: A Noble Fragment. Being a Leaf of the Gutenberg Bible. With bibliographical essay by A. Edward Newton. New York: Gabriel Wells, 1921. Black morocco, gilt-lettered, original board slipcase.

Leaf from the first printed Bible, the first substantial work of the printed word in Europe. This being a "Noble Fragment" from the imperfect Sulzbach-Mannheim Court Library-Munich Royal Library-Robert Curzon (Lord Zouche) copy of the Gutenberg Bible; purchased and broken up by Gabriel Wells in the early 1920's. The present leaf belonged to noted bibliographer R.W.G. Vail, and his original receipt dated 1923 from Gabriel Wells is present. Furthermore, Vail's leaf was published in a 1935 newspaper article; that article, the original photograph and several other items of related ephemera from the 1930's-40's are included in this lot.