THEGLIATIUS, Stephanus (c.1445-1515). Oratio de passione Domini. [Rome: Eucharius Silber, after 20 April 1492.]

First and only edition of an address by pontifical orator Stefano Taleazzi, urging Innocent VIII to encourage "Christian princes" to take up arms against the Turks. Taleazzi served as, among other things, the archbishop of Patras and bishop of Torcello—but was also a resident in the Roman Curia, where he was known for his fiery anti-Turkish oratory under many popes. Several of his speeches were printed in Rome, mostly by Eucharius Silber, Stephan Plannck, and Andreas Freitag, all printers associated with the papal chancery. BMC tentatively suggests the collation as a⁸b⁴, but this copy is arranged and sewn as a⁶b⁶, with the blank at the end (which they also propose as an option). Goff T-125; HC 15457; Bod-inc T-016; BMC IV 113; BSB-Ink T-128; GW M45742. See Kenneth Setton, "Penrose Memorial Lecture: Pope Leo X and the Turkish Peril," in Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 113.6 (1969) for more on Taleazzi's career.

Chancery quarto (200 x 139mm). 12 leaves. (Title a little soiled obscuring a few letters, dampstain in lower margin, scattered foxing.) 20th-century patterned paper wrappers (splitting at head and foot of spine).