1675 Greek New Testament – Johannes Leusden

1675 Greek New Testament – Johannes Leusden

H KAINH ΔΙΑΘΗΚΗ • Novum Testamentum

Johannes Leusden, Editor • Ultrajecti (Utrecht), Netherlands • 1675

A Remarkable 17th-Century Greek New Testament

An authentic 1675 Greek New Testament, edited by the distinguished Dutch biblical scholar Johannes Leusden and printed at Ultrajecti (Utrecht), Netherlands, from the printing office of Antonii Smytegelt.

More than three and a half centuries old, this compact volume preserves the New Testament in its original Greek and represents an attractive example of 17th-century European biblical printing.

The original period binding remains intact, featuring five prominent raised bands across the spine. The spine compartments retain traces of historic gold-gilt tooling, with the titles "NOVUM TESTAMENTUM" and "NOTES" still discernible. The page edges retain faint decorative red speckling, further preserving the volume's period character.

A Distinctive Original Title Page

The original title page remains present and remarkably well preserved. Printed in red and black, it bears the Greek title H KAINH ΔΙΑΘΗΚΗ above the Latin Novum Testamentum, followed by the printer's statement:

ULTRAJECTI

Ex Officina Antonii Smytegelt

1675

The page also features a striking armillary-sphere woodcut, an especially attractive decorative element of the edition.

The following pages preserve the Greek text of the New Testament, including the opening of the Gospel According to Matthew, printed in the original Greek type with an elaborate woodcut initial.

Historic Ownership & Provenance Markings

Adding another layer of historical interest are handwritten markings preserved within the volume.

The front inner cover contains an old cursive library shelf-mark:

"818. 24. 183 N° 3"

Below this is a prominent handwritten inscription reading:

"CL. F. Chauveau, 1807"

Additional faded period handwriting appears on the rear inner cover.

These surviving markings provide tangible evidence of the book's continued ownership and use more than a century after its original printing.

Condition

For a volume dating to 1675, the book remains remarkably stable and retains substantial original material.

The original leather binding exhibits authentic age-related drying, rubbing, and surface wear. There is noticeable leather loss and chipping across portions of the front cover, along the outer board edges, and around the ends of the spine. The five raised bands remain prominent, and the binding remains structurally sound.

The volume is 100% complete, extending from the original title page through the conclusion of the text. The interior paper is exceptionally clean and bright for its age, with no significant staining or foxing. A small number of page edges exhibit minor historical chipping.

A limited number of small historic wormholes are present on leaves near the beginning and middle of the volume, with lighter traces appearing intermittently elsewhere. These are consistent with the considerable age of the book.

Interior: Despite the external wear, the text block presents exceptionally well, with the Greek printing remaining clear and legible throughout.

A Survivor of 17th-Century Biblical Printing

This 1675 Greek New Testament offers an opportunity to acquire an authentic volume from the world of 17th-century biblical scholarship, Greek New Testament printing, and European book history.

Its early date, Greek text, compact format, original period binding, distinctive armillary-sphere title-page woodcut, and surviving historical ownership markings combine to give this volume a remarkable sense of continuity across the centuries.

It has survived not merely as a printed text, but as a physical historical object that was printed, owned, studied, preserved, and passed from one generation to another.

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Collection Reference: AS- 1048

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