VERCELLONE, CARLO GIUSEPPE. — 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 a priest in 1836, he taught in various colleges until he was called to Rome (1847), where he held important offices, among them that of procurator and superior general of his Order. UNGARELLI, LUIGI (v.), V. Bible.
Pius IX entrusted him with the edition of the Vatican Codex (B), already prepared by A. Mai. The work appeared in 5 volumes in 1857, but was immediately found to be marred by not a few errors. V. himself prepared a better edition of the New Testament in 1859; subsequently, in collaboration with G. Cozza Lizzi, he reprinted the entire codex (Rome 1869–1872; in 5 volumes, in addition to the introductory volume).
Much more highly regarded is his edition of the Vulgate (Biblia sacra Vulgatae editionis... recognita atque edita, Rome 1861). His Sulla autenticità della Bibbia Volgata secondo il decreto tridentino (Rome 1866) and the studies, usually concerning the history of the Latin version and questions of textual criticism, collected in the Dissertazioni accademiche (ibid. 1864), reveal a scientific critical sense.
V.’s principal work, a true monument of textual criticism, consists of a collection of the very numerous variants found in the principal manuscripts of the Vulgate; making partial use of the notes left by Ungarelli, V. published Variae lectiones Vulgatae (2 vols., Rome 1860–64). Both the material collected and the excellent prolegomena accompanying it constitute a first-rate preparatory work for a critical edition of the Vulgate. The two imposing volumes do not go beyond the Books of Kings.