The first Luther New Testament printed in America.
Michael Billmeyer (1752-1837), a Lutheran, along with his father-in-law, Peter Leibert, a Brethren minister, were the successors to Christoph Sauer. They acquired in 1783 what was usable of the Saur printing equipment, and established a printing business in Germantown. After about three years, Leibert started a new printing business, and Billmeyer became sole proprietor. Billmeyer was a prolific printer of the German New Testament (Das Neue Testament) in the Martin Luther version, beginning with the 1787 first edition (Evans 20236).The Billmeyer New Testament (1787) was popular enough to warrant a 1788,1795, 1803, 1807, 1808, 1810, 1819, and 1822 reprint.
The first edition is a critical foundation piece of any collection of early American biblical imprints.
[Michael Billmeyer. Bibles] Das Neue Testament unsers Herrn und Henlandes Jesu Christi, nach der Deutschen Uebersetzung D. Marin Luthers. Mit kurzen Inhalt eines Jeden Capitels, under Vollstandiger Amsweisung Gleicher Schriftstellen. Wie auch aller Sonn-und Festagigen Evangelien und Episteln. Erste Auflage [First Edition]. Germantaun, Michael Billmeyer. 1787.
Very handsomely preserved true first edition of Billmeyer's first edition of the German / Martin Luther text for the rapidly expanding German-American population. Textually exceptional and retaining Billmeyer's original binding. Some rubbing as shown, top hasp just lifted and a bit tender.
