[Early Printing] [Incunable] Kempis, Thomas à, and Johannes Gerson. Imitatio Christi and De meditatione cordis
Sale 2101 - Books and Manuscripts
Sep 10, 2024
10:00AM ET
Live / Philadelphia
Estimate
$3,000 -
$5,000
Sold for $3,810
Sold prices are inclusive of Buyer’s Premium
Lot Description
[Early Printing] [Incunable] Kempis, Thomas à, and Johannes Gerson. Imitatio Christi and De meditatione cordis
Venice: (Johannes Leoviler, de Hallis) for Franciscus de Madiis, 1486. 8vo. ff. (ii), 65; lacking rear blank h10. Printed in two columns of 35 lines in gothic type. Capital spaces left blank. Full crimson levant, lettered in gilt, corners and spines ends lightly rubbed; all edges gilt; gilt dentelles; marbled endpapers; by Petit Succr. de Simier; small repairs and light wear in top edge and corners of ff. 51-65; contemporary signature on verso of last text leaf. ISTC ii00011000; Goff I-11; Bod-Inc: T-099; Pr 5665; BMC V 406; Hain 9090; GW M46812
A scarce and early printing of Thomas a Kempis's classic devotional text, one of the most popular and influential religious works after the Bible. One of only a few known works printed by German Johannes Leoviler, de Hallis, using type acquired from his former employer, Franciscus Renner, and printed for Venetian bookseller Franciscus de Madiis.
ISTC locates 97 copies of varying completeness around the world, with only 12 copies in the United States. Furthermore, according to RBH, this is only the fourth copy offered at auction in the past 100 years.
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