Rare items exhibited in JSG

The following rare items are currently on exhibition in the display cabinet of Special Collections in the JS Gericke Library:



An image from the  Lucas Cranach pamflet Passional Christi und Antichristi. 1521

Passional Christi und Antichristi
Wittenberg : J. Grunenberg, 1521.

In this pamphlet 26 woodcuts, attributed to Lucas Cranach (1472-1553), illustrate scenes from the life of Christ on the verso of the leaves, with scenes parodying the life of the pope on the facing pages. Quotations from the gospels accompany the illustrations of the life of Christ, while the illustrations of the pope’s life are accompanied by quotations from the Canon law.  Nine editions and variants appeared in 1521. This copy, from the A 1 edition, is very rare.

The Lord’s Prayer
[s.l.; n.d. Amsterdam, c.1952]

An exceptionally small miniature book, measuring 5mm x 3mm, making it the smallest book in the library. It contains the Lord’s Prayer in Dutch, English, French, German, Spanish and Swedish. Preserved in a case that also serves as a magnifying glass which makes it clearly readable. Bound in black morocco, cross stamped in silver on the front cover and with silver lines on the spine.


St. Augustinus, Bishop of Hippo

 De civitate Dei… - Basel: Johann Amerbach, 1490.

The oldest printed book in our collection, translated as The City of God. Written in 412 A.D. and evoked by the chaos of the times during the fall of Rome. For one thousand years it reigned as the most influential apologia for Christianity.

With original binding, wood and leather cover.