CARLO GIUSEPPE VERCELLONE. - Biblical scholar, born at Sordevolo near Biella on 10 January 1814, died in Rome on 19 January 1869. In 1829 he entered the Barnabites at Genoa. Ordained priest in 1836, he taught in various colleges until he was called to Rome (1847), where he held important positions, including that of procurator and prepositus general of his Order. UNGARELLI, LUIGI (v.), Vercellone devoted himself in particular to textual criticism of the Bible.
Pius IX entrusted him with the edition of Codex Vaticanus (B), already prepared by A. Mai. The work appeared in 5 volumes in 1857, but was immediately marred by numerous errors. Vercellone himself produced a better edition for the New Testament in 1859, and then, in collaboration with G. Cozza-Luzzi, the entire codex was reprinted (Rome 1869-1872; in 5 volumes, plus one of introductory character).
More highly esteemed is his edition of the Vulgate (Biblia sacra Vulgatae editionis... recognita atque edita, Rome 1861). His essays Sulla autenticità della Bibbia Volgata secondo il decreto tridentino (Rome 1866) and those, usually concerning the history of the Latin version and questions of textual criticism, collected in the Disertazioni accademiche (ibid. 1864), reveal a scientific critical sense.
The principal work of Vercellone, a true monument of textual criticism, consists in the collection of numerous variants from the principal codices of the Vulgate; partly utilizing the notes left by Ungarelli, he published Variae lectiones Vulgatae (2 vols., Rome 1860-64). Both the material collected and the excellent prolegomena that accompany it constitute preparatory work of the first order for a critical edition of the Vulgate. The two imposing volumes do not extend beyond the Books of Kings.