De sermonum proprietate, sive Opus de universo - photo 1
De sermonum proprietate, sive Opus de universo - photo 2
De sermonum proprietate, sive Opus de universo - photo 3

De sermonum proprietate, sive Opus de universo

Lot 50
28.01.2025 10:00UTC -05:00
Classic
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CHRISTIE'S
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
ID 1360766
Lot 50 | De sermonum proprietate, sive Opus de universo
Estimate value
$ 60 000 – 80 000
RABANUS MAURUS (c.780–856). De sermonum proprietate, sive Opus de universo. [Strasbourg: R-Press type 1 (Johann Mentelin and Adolf Rusch), c.1473, not after 1474].

The Honeyman-Abrams copy of the first edition of Rabanus Maurus’ great encyclopaedia, one of the earliest printed books on medicine. Book V, chapter 18, deals specifically with medicine, and is one of numerous sections concerning the natural world. Plants and herbs, rocks and minerals, birds, beasts, fish, and the elements all receive entries, as well as geography, astronomy, metallurgy, music and the arts. A pupil of Alcuin, Rabanus Maurus ‘was responsible for the introduction of learning into Germany’ (Stillwell). He became abbot of Fulda and archbishop of Mainz. De universo, his magnum opus, continues the tradition of great encyclopaedias compiled in the later Middle Ages, such as Isidore of Seville’s Etymologie. Not only has this edition been considered the first printed book on medicine, it was also believed to represent the first use of Roman type in Germany. Recent research, however, strongly suggests that the traditional date of this edition, ‘before 1467’ based on an inscription in the BN copy at Paris, is mistaken (possibly owing to a transposition of the final two digits of the date). The next earliest date associated with it is a purchase inscription in the copy at the Wellcome Institute, London, dated 1474. This accords with other firm dates associated with the R-Press. Adolf Rusch was once considered the printer of the ‘R-Press’, and his initials were thought to form the distinctive ‘R’ in its font. Rusch and his father-in-law Johann Mentelin are identified in a document dated 1478 as the printers of an edition of Vincent of Beauvais (Goff B-534) printed in the second type of the R-Press, but Rusch is not known to have printed independently of Mentelin (cf. Christie’s, Doheny I, lot 16). HC *13669; BMC I 60; BSB-Ink H-393; Bod-inc H-223A; CIBN R-2; GW 13557; Goff R-1; Klebs 524.1; ISTC ir00001000.

Royal folio (400 × 272mm). 167 leaves (of 170, without first and 2 final blank leaves but with penultimate blank leaf). Roman type, initials and paragraph marks in red (small spot on a2–3, intermittent mild toning, f3–4 lightly browned and with some soiling, a very few marginal spots, o4v with marginal smudges). 18th-century Dutch panelled calf gilt, covers with central floral arabesque and crown at corners, spine gilt in compartments with raised bands and red morocco lettering-piece, edges gilt (light wear to tips, a few minor scrapes); custom quarter morocco slipcase. Provenance: two early manuscript corrections to chapter numbers on s6v and s7 – Pietro Antonio Bolongaro-Crevenna (1736–1792; sale, Amsterdam, 1789, no. 522; ticket on front pastedown) – Dukes of Arenberg (inventory label on spine) – Robert Honeyman (bookplate; sale Sotheby’s, 11 November 1980, lot 2563) – George Abrams (bookplate; sale Sotheby’s, 16 November 1989, lot 108) – Giancarlo Beltrame (1925–2011; sale Christie’s, 13 July 2016, lot 84).
Place of origin:France
Auction house category:Antiquarian books, Medicine & science, Printed books
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
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