BIBLE ČESKÁ, SO CALLED CÍSAŘSKÁ - OLD TESTAMENT (VOLUME +I)

1780
Biblj Česká, to gest: celé Swaté Pjsmo Starého y Nowého Zákona, podlé starého obecného Latinského od swaté Řjmské katolické Cýrkwe potwrzeného a vžjwaného Přeloženj, opět s obzwlásstnj pilnostj přehlédnuté, ponaprawené, a znowu wydané, Léta Páně 1780. S Gegich cýs. král. aposstolské Milosti neymilostiwěgssj Swobodau. W Praze, Nákladem cýs. král. prawidelné sskolnj Kněhotiskárny. Book format 8°, 22,5x14 cm. 977 numbered pages, in Czech. Translated and issued by Václav Fortunát Durych and František Faustin Procházka, factor Jan Adam Hagen. Hardcover full-leather binding. Volume I: The text ends before the Prophets and the Books of Maccabees. Scratched binding, stained paper, overall good condition, intact text block. The basis for this edition was the St. Wenceslas Bible (1677–1715), which served as the foundation for later Catholic editions of the Czech Bible. In the final years of her reign, Maria Theresa approached Austrian bishops to ensure an affordable edition of the Holy Scriptures for the common people. Archbishop Antonín Petr Příchovský of Prague entrusted the task to biblical scholars and experts in the Czech language, Fortunat Durych and František Faustin Procházka. This is the third edition of the Czech (St. Wenceslas) Bible, bearing the name "Imperial Bible" or "Maria Theresa Bible." The New Testament was published in 1778, and the entire Bible was released in 1780. Josef Dobrovský commented on the spelling quality of this version, stating: "In this edition, we have a classic book that should rightly guide Czechs in spelling."