Sales catalogue 4: Lathorp C. Harper, Inc.

Date:
20th century
Reference:
WA/HMM/CM/Sal/52/121
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sales catalogue 4: Lathorp C. Harper, Inc. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    21/40 page 19
    teenth century, white stamped pigskin. [Strassburg: Johann Mentelin, not after 1466]. $1,000.00 EDITIO PRINCEPS, and one of the earliest books printed by Mentelin, the First PRINTER OF STRASSBURG. [he British Museum Catalogue places it after the Bible of 1460, and the John Rylands Library copy has a genuine manuscript date of 1466. An interesting peculiarity of this book is the blank verso of leaf 130. On the last line of 130 recto we find the following statement printed: “Hic nullus est defectus. Sequitur textus.”’ It is a well-known fact that books printed before 1470 are of most uncommon occurrence. Ours is a very fine and large copy. STILLWELL J-255 HAIN 5034 BMCI, 51 ~ scHorBacH, Mentelin, No. 8 46. JOSEPHUS, Flavius. De Antiquitate Judaica. De Bello Judaico. 287 leaves, Gothic type. Large painted capital on first leaf, in burnished gold and various colors, with scroll-work extending to the margins forming a border along three sides, many other capitals in the style of the ““Maiblumen”’ letters in various colors and elaborate penwork rubrications throughout. Thick large folio, original binding of blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards, two metal clasps. Augsburg: Johann Schiissler, 28 June—23 August, 1470. $1,450.00 EDITIO PRINCEPS of these two monumental works by the Jewish historian and general, whose works were rescued by the Christian Church, of which, like Philo, the author occupies the rank of a Church Father. His ‘writings are of value not only for the historical data which they contain, but also as an apology of Judaism.” “The Antiquities of the Jews” is the most important of the works of Flavius Josephus, and “indeed one of the greatest of all antiquity.” It covers in twenty books the history of the Jews from the creation of the world to the outbreak of the war with Rome. It was finished in 93 A.D. and its purpose was to glorify the Jewish people, so often misunderstood in the eyes of the Roman world. It is of greatest importance for the Christian Church because it illuminates the history of the New Testament, and on account of the few notes which it contains dealing with Christendom. Josephus mentions John the Baptist, James, the brother of Jesus, and Jesus himself (Book 18, Ch. 9). It is, however, doubtful whether this passage originated with Josephus. The other work, “Concerning the Jewish War,” is written in seven books. In addition to a long introduction it covers the period from Antiochus Epiphanes to the minor events that followed the war. Our copy of this most important book is in splendid condition, complete and with large margins; it has finely executed decorations and is preserved in its original monastic binding. It is also the first product of Schiissler’s press. - STILLWELL J-432 HAINQ451 BMC UI, 327 47. JUVENALIS. Satirae, cum Antoni Mancinelli explanatione (ed. Jod. Badius Ascensius]. 6, 253 leaves (text and commentary). Quarto,
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3