BIBLIA SACRA. Vulgatae Editionis.

First edition, first printing of the Salvador Dali illustrated Bible. Five volumes. Folio. Publisher's original full brown morocco, five raised bands, titles and decorated compartments in gilt to the spine. Top edges gilt, others untrimmed, cream silk endpapers, text printed on heavy laid paper with Dalí watermark. Housed in brown calf slipcases with cream silk sides and back. Illustrated with 105 lithographs in colour on heavy paper after the original guoache, watercolour, ink and pastel paintings, completed between 1963 and 1964 by Salvador Dali. The text pages with Dali signature watermark. An excellent set, the bindings square and firm with rubbing and scuffing to several of the raised bands. The contents are fine, clean and bright throughout. The slipcases, structurally sound with just a little marking.

A magnificent production. Edition luxus, numbered 39 of 1499 copies (of a total edition of 1798). After establishing a friendship with Salvador Dalí over the course of several years, Dr. Giuseppe Albaretto commissioned the artist to create 100 paintings based on passages selected from the Latin Vulgate Bible. Himself a devout Catholic, Albaretto's intention in commissioning Dali for this massive undertaking was to bring the artist back to his religious roots. The project resulted in 105 paintings, reproduced here to the highest quality. (Field 69-3; Michel & Löpsinger 1600).