Biblia latina (Vulgate)

Biblia Latina cum postillis Nicolai de Lyra [with additions by Paulus de Sancta Maria and others]

1481

1481

HC 3164*; BMC V 301; Goff B611; Kaplan 100; ISTC ib00611000; GW 4286

Shoults (Special Collections) Ic/ 1481/ B

Venice: [Johannes Herbort, de Seligenstadt] for Johannes de Colonia, Nicolaus Jenson et Socii, 31 July 1481

Wooden boards covered in blind stamped calf, executed by the English Rood and Hunt binder. For further details, see Isabelle Pingree, 'A Catalogue of the Bindings of the Fifteenth Century Bookbinder called the Rood and Hunt Binder', in The Library, Vol. 4 no. 4 (2003), pp. 371-401. Vellum sheet forms as front endpaper. Clasp joints remain only. Spine partially detached. Spine title reads: 'Nic Lyran in Prophetas.'
Of particular note, there are four paper fragments used as binding material. These have been identified by Dr Christopher de Hamel as fragments of indulgences printed by William Caxton (Westminster, after 9 August 1480) and John Lettou (London), after 1480. They are specifically: John Kendale, Commissary, Indulgence for the Knights of Rhodes (plural issue), dated 'in the tenth year of the pontificate of Sixtus IV' (ik00010600; Duff 207; STC 22584; BMC XI 118; GW(Einbl) 821); John Kendale, Commissary, Indulgence for the Knights of Rhodes (singular issue), dated 'in the tenth year of the pontificate of Sixtus IV' (ik00010800; (R)STC 14077c.107c; R. N. Swanson, in The Library 7th ser. 5 (2004) pp.195-201 (with pl); BMC XI 119) and John Kendale, Commissary, Sixtus IV: Indulgence for the Knights of Rhodes (plural issue), dated 'in the tenth year of the pontificate of Sixtus IV' (ik00010700; C 5500; Duff 208; (R)STC 14077c.111; STC 22585; Pr 9756; BMC XI 245; GW(Einbl) 823). De Hamel reported his findings in an unpublished paper read to the Oxford Bibliographical Society on 1 December 1982, and in his Lyell Lectures, 2009.

First page of text proper (Incipit prologus), explicit, binding and spine; fragment sample.

Johannes Herbort, also known as Magnus or Grandis, of Seligenstadt, started his Venetian career as a printer to the firm of Johannes de Colonia et Nicolaus Jenson et Socii. He had previously worked in Padua. The first book signed by Herbort was the Zabarellis, 28 January 1481, printed in Venice. He died on the 8th October 1484.

The Postillae litteralis super totam Bibliam is a comprehensive commentary on the Old and New Testaments and was the principal theological contribution of Nicholas of Lyre (ca. 12701349). Born in La-Neuve-Lyre in Normandy, France, Nicholas became a Doctor of Theology at the Sorbonne in Paris. Completed in the years 1322-31, the Postillae litteralis was celebrated for its clarity and reliability by later scholars and earned the author the epithet 'Doctor planus et utilis'. The editio princeps of Postillae litteralis was printed by Conrad Sweynheym and Arnold Pannartz in Rome, 147172. This printing is the earliest edition with Nicholas' commentary surrounding the text. (See Darlow & Moule, II, p.912, no.6085). As noted, the Library has the third volume only.

Paper. 4 v. [3142 p.]; 322 x 220 mm (fol.); Otago has vol.3 only (Isaiah-Maccabees; l.836-1185)
Gothic type.
Edited by Paulus a Mercatello.
Explicit (v.3; f.1185a): 'Explicit postilla nicolai de lyra sup vet' testamentuz cu[m] er positionibus britonis in proloos hieronymi z cum additionibus pauli epi burgesis z correctorijs earunde additio num editis a marbia doringe ardinis minorum.'
Not rubricated.

1. Biblio. Harvin (?)
2. Canon William Ardene Shoults
3. Selwyn College; Otago University Library