A Medieval Treasure to the National Library

The Sampo financial services group has deposited a four-volume work, Biblia cum postillis Nicolai de Lyra, with Helsinki University Library - the National Library of Finland. This extensive commentary on the Bible was written by Nicolas of Lyra (c. 1270/1275-1349), a prominent medieval theologian. His views on how the Bible should be interpreted are considered revolutionary and many scholars claim that they had an important influence on Martin Luther.

The work was printed by Anton Koberger, the leading German printer of the 15th century. He published four almost identical editions of this work. The volumes deposited with the Library each come from a different edition: volume I from the 1485, volume II from the 1487, volume III from the 1493 and volume IV from the 1497 edition.

Volumes II to IV are in their original bindings: wooden boards covered in blind-tooled brown leather, a typical product of the Koberger printing house. This work, with its skillfully executed decorative initials, will provide scholars of, for example, cultural and church history with an indispensable resource.

For further information please contact:

Rare Books Librarian Sirkka Havu
Email sirkka.havu(at)helsinki.fi
Telephone +358 (0) 9 191 22717