Greek New Testament – engraved frontispiece – contemporary binding - 1755

Elegant 18th-century edition of the Novum Testamentum, printed in Padua in 1755 at the Seminary Press (Ex Typographia Seminarii), apud Joannem Manfrè, representing the refined religious and scholarly publishing tradition of eighteenth-century Padua, intended for private study and ecclesiastical use.

Complete copy in small in-16 format (15 × 9 cm), comprising 660 pages, enriched by an important engraved allegorical frontispiece in Baroque style, depicting the Evangelists and sacred iconography of remarkable visual impact. The volume also preserves decorative typographical ornaments, engraved headpieces and tailpieces that further enhance the quality of the edition and confirm its fine typographical execution.

Contemporary rigid binding with leather spine and reinforced corners, with original reddish page edges. This is a typical devotional and study edition, conceived for personal consultation and seminary use, today particularly appreciated for the charm of its small format, the presence of its original binding, and the excellent internal preservation.

A particularly desirable feature of this copy is the freshness of the paper: the leaves remain unusually white and clean for a mid-18th-century volume, with very limited foxing and excellent overall readability. No missing pages, no torn leaves, and no handwriting, underlining, or scribbles; the final leaf is present, and the volume is complete, compact, and well preserved.

The binding shows the natural signs of time, mainly to the leather spine, with abrasions, surface wear, and small losses consistent with normal use over the centuries. The boards also show light rubbing and handling marks, more visible at the upper right corner of the front board and along the extremities. These are purely external condition points entirely consistent with an original 18th-century binding and do not affect the structural solidity of the book or the full usability of the text.

A very attractive and well-presented example, of notable interest for collectors of early Bibles, religious editions, and antiquarian theological books: a significant testimony of 18th-century Paduan religious publishing, complete, well preserved, and with strong visual appeal.