Lot 155
Jerome, St.
Rare Books, Manuscripts & Photographs
Auction: 16 January 2008 at 11:00 GMT
Description
Epistolae. Venice: Joannes Rubeus Vercellensis, 7 January and 12 July 1496, folio, ff. (i-xiv) 15-398 (numbered ix-390), contemporary calf over boards, Paduan in style, lacking clasps, rebacked, some wormholes, lower outer corner of first gathering a bit soiled, wormholes in the first gatherings, some marginal spotting, little tear without loss on f.174, few early marginal annotations
Footnote
Note: A substantial collective edition of the letters (and a few homilies) of St. Jerome, one of the Fathers of the Church. Jerome was the preeminent Christian scholar of his age, indeed he is one of very few examples of canonisation on grounds of exemplary service to the church rather than exemplary sanctity.
In between his more substantial compositions, including the first bibliographical author catalogue, Jerome wrote letters on every subject under the sun but particularly anything controversial. Luther complained that Jerome's letters were only about fasting and virginity, but this is unfair. He was a pioneer in all fields of patrology and Biblical archeology.
BMC V 419. Goff H-175. Hain III 8563.
Provenance: Contemporary ex-libris on titlepage of 'Monasterii Sancti Andree [Vercellarum]', early of 'P. Massimi a Taurino Ordinis Minorum Regularis Observanti[is] S. Patris Francisci', later of 'P. Clodoveo [...]' and on f. (vii) of 'Gregorii Vercell[ensi] post cuius obitum erit Monasterii Sancti Andree de Vercellis'