Brewer's: Mazarine Bible

(The). The earliest book printed in movable metal type. It contains no date, but a copy in the Bibliothèque Mazarine contains the date of the illuminator Cremer (1456), so that the book must have been printed before that date. Called “Mazarine” from Cardinal Mazarin, who founded the library in 1688.

In 1873, at the Perkin's sale. Lord Ashburnhain gave 3,400 for a copy in vellum, and Mr. Quaritch, bookseller, gave 2,690 for one on paper. At the Thorold sale, in 1884, Mr. Quaritch gave 3,900 for a copy. In 1887 he bought one for 2,600; and in 1889 he gave 2,000 for a copy slightly damaged.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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