Aurelius Augustinus, 2 October 1475

AUGUSTINUS, Aurelius (354–430). De civitate dei. Venice: Nicolas Jenson, 2 October 1475.

Second Venetian edition of Augustine's magnum opus. Augustine, a native of North Africa, played a pivotal role in the development of theology in the Latin-speaking world. In the Middle Ages, 'the writings of Augustine contained perhaps the most substantial body of philosophical ideas then available in Latin' (Kristeller). His works were central to the transmission of Platonic philosophy and 'both Luther and Calvin took Augustine as the foundation of Protestantism next to the Bible itself' (PMM). This, his greatest work, was written in the wake of the fall of Rome, contrasting the fallible and frangible world of empire with the enduring eternity of the city of God.

Augustine’s seminal De civitate dei appeared in print for the first time in 1467. The present edition is the only work of Augustine's printed at the press of Nicolas Jenson, whose editions are renowned for their beauty and importance. This copy’s colophon reads ‘mozechino prin|cipe’ which agrees with BMC V 175 (IB 19686). Loosely inserted is a tailor’s bill addressed to one Mychell Constable by Thomas Clarke, dated January 1624. HC *2051; BMC V 175; Bod-inc A-522; BSB-Ink A-858; CIBN A-682; GW 2879; Goff A-123; ISTC ia01235000.

Chancery folio (269 × 180mm). 302 leaves (of 306, without 4 blanks). Initials in red, some with reserved decoration, red capital strokes and paragraph marks (very occasional and light marginal soiling and worming, a few wormholes repaired in gutter of gathering b, headline just shaved on final leaf). Late 18th-century red morocco richly gilt, gauffered gilt edges (lightly rubbed at extremities). Provenance: Wiener Neustadt, monastery of St. Paul the First Hermit (17th-century inscription) – William Constable Maxwell, Everingham Park (armorial bookplate) – J. H. Burn O.R (book-label dated 1931 recording bequest to Rugby) – Rugby School Library (bookplate, sold Christie’s, 4 December 2018, lot 154).