Amsterdam, Embassy of the Free Mind, Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica (NL)
: UBN26845
ISTC No.ic00281000
AuthorCatharina Senensis, S
Title[Epistole (CCCLXVIII). Italian :] Orazioni scelte. Ed: Bartolomeo da Alzano
ImprintVenice : Aldus Manutius, Romanus, '15' [i.e., not before 19] Sept. 1500
Formatf°
Languageita
SubjectLiterature-Devotional
Periodmedieval
Description of Copy
Copy Id02151753
Holding InstitutionAmsterdam, Embassy of the Free Mind, Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica (NL)
CollectionBibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica
ShelfmarkUBN26845
NoteRecognized as part of Unesco: NL Memory of the World.
NoteCreated by Meagan Baars.
Physical Description422 ff. One full-page woodcut (f.10v) with the portrait of St. Catherine; red morocco, large gilt roulette wheel, spine with 5 ornamented false double nerves, roulette on the cups and inside roulette wheel, lining and endpapers of green silk set with a gilt roulette wheel, gilt edges (Purgold).
First complete incunabulum edition of the letters and orations of the great Sienese mystic. It is dedicated to Francesco Piccolomini. It is the first book entirely in Italian printed by Aldus.
Of the 368 letters printed in this edition, only 31 had appeared in 1492 in Bologna.
Daughter of a dyer, Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) was distinguished by her infinite charity. The popes had recourse to her during the Great Western Schism, intervening with Gregory XI to bring him back from Avignon to Rome and advising Urban VI. Her aim was to reconstitute the unity of Christianity, to organize a general crusade against Islam. His correspondence is of capital historical interest.
"Beautiful edition in round letters of which it is difficult to find well-preserved copies" (Brunet).
It is illustrated with a splendid full-page woodcut showing the Saint receiving the triple crown from two angels, probably made after the statue by Neroccio Bartolomea
Landi kept in Siena. The engraving contains five words printed in italics, a remarkable detail because it was not until the following year that Aldus Manus printed an entire work using this first italic engraving by Francesco Griffo.
Size of leaves307 × 204 mm
Copy FeaturesMade up copy
Copy Features - NoteFirst and last seven leaves from another copy added at the time of binding.
Support material (book)Paper
Support material (plates)Paper
SourcePhysical description copied from auction catalogue LA BIBLIOTHÈQUE DE PIERRE BERGÉ - 5E VENTE SUR DESIGNATION - Mercredi 16 Décembre 2020 À 14h00, lot 1000. https://www.pba-auctions.com/en/lot/107762/13435381?
Provenance
1784 -
1829
Time period1784 - 1829
Provenance TypeBinding
Method of acquisitionConsignment
Binding noteRed moroccon leather, large gilt roulette wheel, spine with 5 ornamented false double nerves, roulette on the cups and inside roulette wheel, lining and endpapers of green silk set with a gilt roulette wheel, gilt edges.
Binding date18th cent.
Binding typeBoards
Board materialWood
Cover materialLeather
FurnitureNo
Binding statusRebound
TitlingTooled
ToolingGold
EdgesGilt
Writing on edgesNone
GaufferedNo
CertaintyThe recording of this evidence is considered certain
SourceBook in hand
Auction / Sales Catalogue
Provenance
PlaceTrapani (Geonames ID: 2522876)
Provenance nameBibliothecadis A.R. il conte di trapani [Former Owner] (Library)
Provenance TypeStamp
NoteStamp on f.1r, 'Bibliothecadis A.R. il conte di trapani'.
CertaintyThe recording of this evidence is considered certain
SourceBook in hand
Provenance
1873 -
PlaceUnited States (Geonames ID: 6252001)
Time period1873 -
Provenance TypeSeller's mark/note
NoteDifferent loose notes included in binding describing the book from the store catalogue.
CertaintyThe recording of this evidence is considered certain
SourceBook in hand
Documentary source
Provenance
1875 -
1987
Time period1875 - 1987
Provenance TypeExlibris
NoteRed leather bookplate on front pastedown. Sold by Christie's in 1987, lot 109.
Date of evidence1987
Method of acquisitionPurchase
CertaintyThe recording of this evidence is considered certain
SourceBook in hand
Auction / Sales Catalogue
Provenance
1987 -
Time period1987 -
Provenance TypeExlibris
NoteExlibris on first front endleaf. Cataloguer notes on endleaf, along with corresponding numbers in other catalogues.
Method of acquisitionPurchase
CertaintyThe recording of this evidence is considered certain
SourceBook in hand
Auction / Sales Catalogue
Provenance
2020
Time period - 2020
Provenance TypeExlibris
NoteExlibris on first front endleaf. Different pencil notes on second front endleaf: corresponding catalogue numbers and make up of the copy folia. Sold during the fifth sale of Bergé's library on the 16th of December 2020.
Date of evidence2020
Price14533 EUR Price including fees.
CertaintyThe recording of this evidence is considered certain
SourceBook in hand
Auction / Sales Catalogue
Provenance
2020 -
PlaceAmsterdam (Geonames ID: 2759794)
Time period2020 -
Provenance TypeExlibris
NoteRepurchased from Pierre Bergé in 2020.
Method of acquisitionPurchase
CertaintyThe recording of this evidence is considered certain
SourceBook in hand
Auction / Sales Catalogue
Other Information
CompletenessThe enumeration of provenance evidence is considered complete
Last Edit2024-06-13 14:47:05