THOMAS AQUINAS (Saint, c. 1225-1274). Summa theologica, secunda pars, secundus liber. Mainz: Peter Schoeffer, 6 March 1467. - photo 1
THOMAS AQUINAS (Saint, c. 1225-1274). Summa theologica, secunda pars, secundus liber. Mainz: Peter Schoeffer, 6 March 1467. - photo 2
THOMAS AQUINAS (Saint, c. 1225-1274). Summa theologica, secunda pars, secundus liber. Mainz: Peter Schoeffer, 6 March 1467. - photo 3
THOMAS AQUINAS (Saint, c. 1225-1274). Summa theologica, secunda pars, secundus liber. Mainz: Peter Schoeffer, 6 March 1467. - photo 4
THOMAS AQUINAS (Saint, c. 1225-1274). Summa theologica, secunda pars, secundus liber. Mainz: Peter Schoeffer, 6 March 1467. - photo 5
THOMAS AQUINAS (Saint, c. 1225-1274). Summa theologica, secunda pars, secundus liber. Mainz: Peter Schoeffer, 6 March 1467. - photo 6

THOMAS AQUINAS (Saint, c. 1225-1274). Summa theologica, secunda pars, secundus liber. Mainz: Peter Schoeffer, 6 March 1467.

Starting price
£ 400 000
Auction dateClassic
13.07.2022 10:30UTC +01:00
Auctioneer
CHRISTIE'S
Event location
United Kingdom, London
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ID 794357
Lot 124 | THOMAS AQUINAS (Saint, c. 1225-1274). Summa theologica, secunda pars, secundus liber. Mainz: Peter Schoeffer, 6 March 1467.
THOMAS AQUINAS (Saint, c. 1225-1274). Summa theologica, secunda pars, secundus liber. Mainz: Peter Schoeffer, 6 March 1467.



A deluxe vellum copy, printed, decorated and bound at Mainz for Peter Schoeffer of the second edition of Thomas Aquinas's Summa, secunda secundae. All the many writings of St. Thomas are preparatory to the great Summa Theologiae, aimed at being the sum of all knowledge. The Summa consists of three parts, whose first editions were printed separately. The first of any part of the Summa to appear in print – within a decade of the beginning of printing – and the most frequently printed was the second book of the second part, as here, indicating its importance and relevance.



Not only is the Summa one of the greatest works of philosophy and theology ever written (declared ‘the indisputable basis of Catholic theology’ by Pope Leo XIII - PMM) , but in its exposition on ethics and morality, the Secunda secundae is recognised as one of the earliest works of economic thought. In it Aquinas considers the theory of private property, the theory of a just price and usury. Deeply influence by Aristotle, Aquinas distinguished between just price and market price, condemned usury, and argued that the ownership of private property could/should benefit the most people. Similarly, he acknowledged the necessity of trade, ideally with public benefit, and the efficiency inherent in the division of labour and specialised occupations.



This edition is the first book printed by Peter Schoeffer following the death of his partner, Johann Fust, and it is one of the few books printed, decorated and bound all in association with Schoeffer. Lotte Hellinga lists 8 other Schoeffer books bound by this shop, designated ‘M mit Krone’ and identified as the Mainz Carmelites [EBDB w000023]; at least 2 other copies of the 1467 also contain vellum printed waste from the Schoeffer press. The front pastedown is a leaf from the register of Schoeffer’s edition of Aquinas In quarto Sententiarum 13 June 1469 (Goff T-168, fo. 272) and the lower pastedown is the uncancelled setting of fo. 175 (cancelled setting is in the Morgan copy). BMC I, 24; H *1459; BSB-Ink T-287; CIBN T-175; Bod-inc. T-172; Goff T-209; ISTC it00209000.



Printed on vellum. Royal folio (399 x 286mm). 258 leaves. Fust-Schoeffer device printed in red, 11-line initial opening text in red and blue with penwork decoration, other initials and paragraph marks alternating in red or blue, 3-line incipit on fo. 1 supplied in red, red headlines, red capital strokes in quire 27. Bound at Mainz in a shop associated with the Schoeffer press [Kyriss 160] in contemporary blindstamped calf over wooden boards, 2 brass fore-edge clasps, evidence of chain staple at head of lower cover, pastedowns of printed vellum waste from Schoeffer’s shop [see note] (rebacked, lightly restored, clasps renewed); modern folding case.



Provenance: Estelle Doheny (1875-1958; acquired from Alice Millard, August 1935; red leather label, sold Christie’s NY, 22 October 1987, lot 7) – Amsterdam, Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica (bookplate, J.R. Ritman sale, Sotheby's, 6 December 2001, lot 36).





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