Extremely rare Medieval sermons
Strassburg, c.1486
INCUNABULA – Sermones "Parati" de tempore et de sanctis. [Strassburg: Printer of the 1483 'Vitas Patrum', about 1486].

A well-used copy of a very rare incunable collection of sermons, with contemporary marginalia. This medieval compendium of sermon notes for use by priests is keyed to the Church calendar and the lives of the saints. ISTC assigns this edition to the “Printer of 1483 ‘Vitas Patrum’” in Strassburg but GW describes it as having been printed in Basel by Michael Wensler. This copy matches exactly the one held in the library of Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, except for the 4 lacking text leaves. Here, the final leaf of the tabula is bound at the end. All early editions of this text are extremely rare, and this edition is not recorded at auction. There are no copies outside German institutions except a 96 leaf fragment held by the Huntington Library. ISTC Ip00096000; GW M29358.

Folio (274 x 202mm). 269 (of 276 leaves; lacking 2 leaves of the tabula, 2 leaves from gathering m, and what may be 3 blanks). Double columns, 44 lines. Initials roughly executed in brown ink, one attractively done in red (upper quadrant torn from leaf K7, large tape repair reattaching bottom portion of leaf 2f8, a few smaller marginal repairs, dampstaining and worming especially to gutter). Contemporary stamped calf, remains of clasps (rebacked, spine repaired with bands showing). Provenance: early marginalia and corrections in several hands – Petrus Louwenberg (?, a canon in Kaiserwerth, modern Düsseldorf; note of death 14 June 166[4?], “orate pro eo”).