Treasures in the Royal Library


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Das Allte Testament deudsch. Die Propheten alle Deudsch. Das Newe Testament deutsch. Wittenberg: Michel Lotther and Hans Lufft 1526-1532.
1,-67 (1,-68) 2º

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Front cover with
portrait of King Frederik II
Title page (part 1) Fol. 114r: From the Pentateuch
(part 1)

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Fol. 10v: Book of Daniel,
The statue with feet of clay
(part 2)
Fol. 16r: Map of the world from the Book of Daniel (part 2) Fol. 54r: The beginning of
Paul’s letter to Titus (part 3)
Fol. 97r: Revelation
of John (part 3)


A central element of the Protestant Reformation was that “the common man” should be able to read the Bible himself, in his own language. Martin Luther himself – the founder of the Reformation – translated the Bible into German in the 1520’s. His German translation was of great importance to the development of written German.
This book contains parts of Luther’s translation: The Pentateuch (printed 1526), the prophets of the Old Testament (1532), and the New Testament (1526). Luther’s translations of the Bible were often illustrated. Above is shown a map of the world from the Book of Daniel. Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (ill. 4) was regarded as a prophecy of succeeding empires until the end of time.
This book belonged to King Frederik II ((b. 1534) 1559-1588). The binding is made of dark leather on wooden boards decorated with frames and flowers. In the middle of the front cover is a portrait of Frederik II, in the middle of the back cover the Danish coat of arms, the monogram FS (Fridericus Secundus or Frederik and Sofie (the Queen)), and the King’s motto.

31.5 x 20.7 cm.


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