Eusebius Caesariensis, 15 May 1476

EUSEBIUS CAESARIENSIS (c.260–c.340). Historia ecclesiastica. Translated by Rufinus Aquileiensis. Rome: Johannes Philippus de Lignamine, 15 May 1476.

Third edition of Eusebius’ monumental church history, the Soubise-Broxbourne copy. Celebrated for his role documenting the early history of the Church, Eusebius was present at many key moments such as the First Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325 where he not only helped to shape doctrine but documented its formation. Amongst all of his writings, ‘Eusebius’ chief fame rests on The History of the Christian Church, the most important ecclesiastical history of the ancient times’ which he wrote during the reign of Constantine the Great (Loeb). Johannes Philippus de Lignamine, born in Sicily, was the first native-born Italian printer. HC *6710; BMC IV 34; BSB-Ink E-111; Bod-inc E-043; CIBN E-99; GW 9436; Goff E-126; ISTC ie00126000.

Median folio (321 × 225mm). 219 leaves (of 220, without first blank). Later issue with dedicatory letter to Cardinal d’Estouteville. Large red painted initials, some with reserved decoration and one with pen-flourishing, red Lombards and paragraph marks (scattered worming at ends, some sheets toned at end, occasional dust-soiling). 18th-century polished calf with badge of Prince de Soubise on spine; custom box. Provenance: few early marginal comments, occasionally trimmed – Charles de Rohan, 4th Prince de Soubise, 1715–1787 (binding) – Baron Horace Landau, 1824–1903 (bookplate) – Albert Ehrman, 1890–1969, Bibliotheca Broxbourniana (bookplates) – John Patrick William Ehrman, 1920–2011 (bookplate) – George Abrams (bookplate; sale, Sotheby’s, New York, 16 November 1989, lot 45).