Homiliarius doctorum de tempore et de sanctis a Paulo Diacono collectus. Edited by Johann Ulrich Surgant (1449/50-1503). Basel: Nicolaus Kesler, 30 September 1493.

First illustrated edition and the first edition edited by Surgant from a manuscript he had recently found in the Basel Cathedral library. It is the fourth edition overall of a collection of homilies by Saints Gregory the Great, Augustine, Jerome, Ambrose, Bede and others compiled by Paul the Deacon. The work provides readings for the night office of the liturgy, and it served as a manual of preaching for parish priests. HC 8791*; GW 12929; Schreiber 4898; BMC III, 770; BSB-Ink H-325; Goff H-317; ISTC ih00317000.

Super-chancery folio (304 x 212mm). 248 leaves. Full-page woodcut depicting Doctors of the Church on title, printer’s device at end, initials and paragraph marks alternating in red or blue, initial on a2 with 17th-century penwork decoration, a few ms. guide-letters (3 small punctures in first few quires, occasional light browning, title faintly soiled, a few words deleted on dd2, small internal tear in ee8 repaired on verso, small stains on B6). ?18th-century vellum, spine lettered in manuscript (neat repair at head of spine, small stain on front cover). Provenance: contemporary inscription erased from foot of second leaf – Aldobrandino Malvezzi de Medici (modern bookplate).

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