JACOBUS DE VORAGINE (c. 1230-1298). Legenda aurea sanctorum, in Low German: Dat duytsche Passionael. Cologne: Ludwig von Renchen, 1485.

Illustrated low German edition of the Golden Legend, in a contemporary binding. Jacopo de Voragine's collection of the lives of the saints was immensely popular and went through close to 70 editions by the close of the 15th century, many in translation. It appeared in German in c.1471-72; Spanish c.1472-73, Italian in 1476, French in 1477, Dutch in 1478, English in c.1483-84, and Czech in 1495. This is the second edition in Low German, after the first published in 1480 by Lucas Brandis, also with woodcuts. Goff-J 171; BMC I 266; BSB-Ink I-105; CIBN J-108; Schramm VIII p. 25; ISTC ij00171000.

Chancery folio (282 x 202mm). 252 leaves. Part 1 only. Knoblochtzer's woodcut border on first page of text, woodcuts throughout. (Small strip, about 20 x 155mm, cut from upper margin of first leaf, a couple short marginal tears, occasional minor soiling.) Contemporary German blind-stamped calf [perhaps EBDB w002176] with Evangelists' symbols bull with head-turned [s014283] and eagle with wings spread [s014282], rosettes [s014279; s014288], and rampant lion [s014268], over bevelled wooden boards, paper spine labels, leaves from a 13th-century German manuscript Decretum Gratiani used as pastedowns, two clasps (spine splitting along lower joint with some loss extending to center spine, bands visible; some scrapes; old tabs; final gathering sprung). Provenance: clipped inscription above title on first leaf – c.16th century inscription and monogram to pastedowns ("brod[er] Johan Petyt") – Howard Lehman Goodhart (1884–1952; label; gifted to his daughter:) – Phyllis Goodhart Gordan (1913–1994; leather label); by descent.