Antoninus Florentinus (1389-1459)
Summa Theologica. Pars III (of four). Nuremberg: Anton Koberger, 26 January 1478.
A large copy in a strictly contemporary Nuremberg binding of part III of the first complete edition of Antoninus' vast Summa of moral theology. Individual parts were also printed independently in the 15th century, but Koberger’s edition was the first of the entire text. In Venice, Nicolaus Jenson also embarked on a complete edition in 1477 and because he printed part III first, it precedes in print Koberger’s by a few months. The present volume was bound at the bindery of Franz Staindorffer, one of several Nuremberg shops closely associated with Koberger, the most successful German printer-entrepreneur of the 15th century. HC 1242*; BMC II, 415; BSB-Ink A-594; CIBN A-452; GW 2186; Bod-in. A-344; Goff A-871; ISTC ia00871000.

Imperial folio (471 x 322mm). 464 leaves, with first and final blank. Opening 8-line initial illuminated by a contemporary Nuremberg artist, in lavender modelled in white on a burnished gold ground with punch-dotted decoration and leafy extensions in colours, other major initials in parti-coloured blue and red with green and brown penwork, remaining initials alternately in blue and red, red paragraph marks, several contemporary quire signatures partly preserved (illuminated initial on a5r excised with loss of 15 lines of text on verso, knife slits to a6, blank outer half of colophon leaf [51/8] removed, the remaining portion tipped in, a few very minor marginal tears, light dampstain in last quire). Contemporary Nuremberg binding from the shop of Franz Staindorffer [Kyriss shop 65, active c. 1474-1486]: blindstamped calf over thick wooden boards, borders of dragon and alternating Laubstab and rosette, central compartment of floral tool within trellis (upper cover) or lozenges (lower), cast and chased brass corner-pieces with bosses, centerpiece on lower cover, brass catches, edges stained pale yellow, title lettered on fore-edge (lacking clasps and the two inner cornerpieces on lower cover, rebacked, preserving much of spine compartments, somewhat worn, upper cover possibly with old restoration at top).

17th-century monastic inscription washed from first page – Ned J. Nakles (1931-99; sale Christie’s NY, 17 April 2000, lot 53).

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