Plenarium (German). – Episteln und Evangelien. Two parts in one volume.
Printed by Johann Bämler, Augsburg, 30 September, 1476
Fourth edition of the bestseller in German
With 57 woodcuts in old coloring and 54 woodcut initials in old coloring
Appealing Renaissance binding with blind-tooled pigskin on massive wooden boards and two thongs
Dimension of small folio volume: 28.5 x 20.5 x 9.5 cm
The almost complete incunabula is in good condition
Extremely precious German incunabula with outstanding late medieval book illustration – extremely rare print, only five copies in libraries verifiable
Object is regular taxed. 7% VAT is added to the purchase price for deliveries within the EU.

This fourth richly illustrated German Plenarium edition is also the second edition printed by Johann Bämler. The German translation of the pericopes were partly increased with other parts of the liturgy. They formed, especially with the supplements 'Glossen und Postillen', an excellent means for the people's religious education. This incunabula is extremely rare. World-wide only five copies are proven in in libraries in Göttingen, Munich, Tübingen, Middletown, CT and in Moscow.

Illustration

Gothic type in one column with 28 lines. 57 woodcuts in the text in old coloring, of which one full-page. 54 woodcut initials in old coloring. The fine full-page woodcut (part I, leaf 166 verso) shows the Resurrection of Christ and teh sleeping soldiers. With reservations, literature ascribes creatorship of the woodcuts to the Master of Saint Veronica. The woodcuts, with few exceptions, were taken from the edition from 1474. In the second part the woodcuts on verso of leaf 43 and recto of leaf 82 were re-released in this edition. All woodcuts in an excellent old coloring. With isolated rubrications in the front. Dimensions of leaves: 26.5 x 18 cm, text area: 20.5 x 12.5 cm.

Collation

166 numbered leaves (I-CLXVI) in part I and 199 numbered leaves (I-CLXXXXIX - recte 200) in part II. Only missing the first unnumbered leaf with the woodcut 'Christ at the Open Grave' and one blank leaf each at beginning and at the end. Accordingly 366 (instead of 369 leaves). Gatherings: *2; a–q10; r?; s–z10; A–G10; H8; I11; K–N10; O12.

Condition

Incunabula in good condition. Consistently clean copy with unusually wide margins and strong paper. Laid paper just slightly browned. Paper carefully washed as well as skilfully and unobtrusively restored. Around 50 leaves with restored splits or defects in margins and remargined respectively. Leaf 26 (part I) with small hole with loss of letters. Leaf 40 (part II) with larger restored split. Few contemporary and older hand-written marginalia and corrections. Remains of markers. In part I leaf 49 bound after 42 and leaf 90 after 91.

Binding

Blind-tooled 16th century pigskin binding on massive wooden boards. Characteristic Renaissance roll-stamp borders and blind lines. Two thongs, which are fastened to pins in center of the front board. Three raised bands. Remains of an old label on spine. The binding was restored and rebound, the endpapers were renewed. Binding and book block firm and stable. Boards somewhat stained and rubbed. Front joint slightly burst. Dimensions of small folio volume: 28.5 x 20.5 x 9.5 cm.

References

ISTC ie00075000; BSB P-581; GW M 34064; Copinger 2320; Schreiber 4948; Schramm III, S.15; Goff E 75.

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