= Perhaps the most beautifully illustrated bible ever issued in the Low Countries, being atthe same time the Roman Catholic pendant of the Dutch States-Bible (Statenbijbel). The Moerentorf Bible met extraordinary success and became the standard Bible for Dutch Roman Catholics for almost three centuries, being repeatedly reprinted as the official Dutch translation of the Vulgate in the Low Countries. Jan Moerentorf, better known as Jan Moretus, published this revised Dutch translation of the Old and New Testament together in 1599 with the title Biblia sacra. Darlow/ Moule 3314; Poortman I, page 134; Le Long, Boekzaal, p.630-631: "Dit werdt voor de Roomschgesinden voor de Allerbeste Bybel en Druk gehouden (...)". Splendid illustrated corrected edition of the Dutch Roman Catholic Bible. The first part is an update of the standard Antwerp 1599 edition of Jan Moretus. The second part is a revised version (by Henricus van den Leemputte) of the New Testament edition of Cornelis Verschuren. Poortman: "De Moerentorfbijbel werd vaak herdrukt, soms met de prentjes van Beham, soms zonder prenten. Slechts één nadruk willen wij hier bespreken, omdat deze bijbel met zijn 1200 houtsneden ver uitsteekt boven alle andere herdrukken: [this 1657/1646 edition]. Upper joint torn at upper ca.5 cm. A few leaves strengthened in blank margin (incl. engr. title); some dampstaining esp. in beginning and at the end; some browning and soiling in places; first endpaper and printed title with stamp.