Although the earliest known German translations are from the fourth century, Germany didn’t have scholarly translations until the year 1460 (approx.). The first Luther Bible (containing both Old and New Testament) wasn’t published until 1534. Martin Luther’s translation required decades to complete even with a team of scholars.
While very expensive for the time, an estimated 200 thousand copies were sold. This was the first Bible to include the Apocrypha as a separate intertestamental section. Early English bibles also generally contained an Apocrypha section but it was increasingly omitted it after the King James Bible in 1611.
German Bibles from the 1800’s are not uncommon, but they have historical as well as collector value and come in many variations.
Example of Work
This German bible had detached covers and lacked the end papers. The cover was reattached and new end papers inserted. This Bible has a fore-edge painting (see gallery for more on fore-edge paintings) and the end papers match its color scheme.
