Franciscus Renner de Heilbronn & Nicholaus de Frankfordia, 1476

MARCHESINUS, Johannes (b. c.1300). Mammotrectus super Bibliam. Venice: Franciscus Renner de Heilbronn and Nicholaus de Frankfordia, 1476.

First Venice edition of a popular guide to understanding the text of the Bible for priests. The Mammotrectus explains difficult Biblical words, church festivals, the legends of the saints, and various liturgical texts. The text was probably first printed in 1470 by Peter Schoeffer, and thus went into many subsequent editions, quite a few of which are in smaller formats such as this quarto printing—reflecting this work's use as a practical guide for priests and perhaps a desire for portability. Goff M-236; Bod-inc M-083; BMC V 194; BSB-Ink M-155.050; GW M20827.

Chancery quarto (211 x 156mm). 226 leaves [of 228, without first and last blanks]. Initial spaces filled with in red and green; rubricated (a little foxed around the edges). 19th-century half vellum and marbled boards, title in ink on top edge (joints splitting).