THOMAS A KEMPIS (c. 1380-1471) - Imitatio Christi. [Augusta:]: Günther Zai...

THOMAS A KEMPIS (c. 1380-1471) - Imitatio Christi. [Augusta:]: Günther Zainer, [prima del 5 giugno 1473, ma da studi recenti non dopo il 1472]. Grazie a una nota di possesso presente nella copia di Monaco si pensava la raccolta fosse stata stampata prima del 1473, ma più recenti studi hanno rinvenuto una nota di possesso del 1472 presente in una copia in collezione privata (Roland Folter, USA). Editio Princeps of the world's most printed religious text after the Bible. An extremely fascinating copy in its german contemporary blind stamp pigskin binding: the binding is from the workshop of the so-called Fuchsvogel Meister I of Augusta whose tools have been identified: the heart-shaped palmette (Motifs: m002386, ID: 108648s - Kyriss 090.01) and the invocation to Mary (Motifs: m002597, ID: 2597 - Kyriss K150.33). An crisp uncut copy with wide margins. The publication of the Imitatio Christi was a true publishing case and a best seller of the time. Up to the present day there are in fact numerous editions of the devotional text whose authorship for years has been debated by researchers, but today the text finally seems to be attributable with certainty to the Augustinian monk Thomas Von Kempen. Written during the Middle Ages, the Imitatio describes the way to reach ascetic perfection, following the example given by Jesus. The work was printed by the first publisher of Augusta, Gunther Zainer, probably in large numbers hoping that the convents and monasteries would have bought it; for this purpose, Zainer published the text together with other religious works. This is the reason why in some copies the Imitatio is linked to the other tracts, up to a maximum of eight or nine depending on whether the two works by Sant'Agostino (Soliloquia and Speculum peccatoris) are counted separately. The present copy is lacking one tract consisting of 12 leaves containing the ""Erroer judaeorum"", removed by a censor probably in a later period since the later manuscript numbering skips those leaves. Some of the other known examples contain an initial leaf with the list of works that ideally appear in this order: De viris illustribus; De essentia divinitatis; De articulis fidei; De quantitate anima; Soliloquy. Speculum peccatoris; Imitatio Christi; Errores judeaorum; Processus iudiciarios; Donatus moralisatus; Ars moriendi. In addition to Kempis, the authors are San Girolamo, San Tommaso, Sant'Agostino, Bartolo da Sassoferratto and the Pseudo Gerson. Complete copies of all treatises are very rare (Morgan, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek and a few others). In most cases, several treatises are missing and can be from time to time found loose and in modern bindings. Complete copies in contemporary binding are not registered as having sold at auction after 1978 (RBH)" 9 (of 10) considering the works by St. Augustin two separate tracts as in Goff, folio (309 x 210mm). 35 lines, gothic type, large initial at the opening of the text and other initials before each work, some depicting anthropomorphic faces; red and light brown initials, mostly 3 to 6 lines, sheet 30 - corresponding to 3 (10) in the Imitatio - as always shorter at the outer margin due to a typographical error and editorially integrated, similarly to the name of the typographer which is corrected by hand as in most of the copies registered (86 in ISTC) (sporadic traces of wormtracks mostly at margins, very tiny small holes that compromise some letters mainly at the beginning and end, a few sporadic and slight stains). The Errores Judaeorum ex Talmud extracti are lacking. Probationes novi testaments ex old testament. [Augusta: Günther Zainer, before 1473] formerly inserted with the others on ff. 197-209. Instead, there are: (1) Thomas a Kempis. Imitatio Christi - Collation: [1-7¹° 86]: 76 sheets. Goff I4; IGI 5106 (2a and 2b) St. Augustine. Soliloquy; [Augusta: Günther Zainer, not after 1472]. Linked with: Speculum peccatoris. [Augusta: Günther Zainer, c. 1472-1473] printed on ff. 24-28. Collation: [1-2¹° 38]: 28 sheets. Goff A1333, A1337; IGI VI 1043-A (3) Augustine of Hippo. De quantitate animae. [Augusta: Günther Zainer, not after 1472]. Collation: [1-2¹° 38?6?¹?]: 29 sheets. Goff A1225; IGI VI 1024-A - (4) Sofronio Eusebio Girolamo. De viris illustribus. [Augusta: Günther Zainer, not after 1472]. Collation: [1-3¹° 46 (+ 4 *)]: 37 sheets. Goff H192; IGI 4196. - (5a and 5b) Pseudo-Jerome. De essentia divinitatis - St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa de articulis fidei. [Augusta: Günther Zainer, not after 1472]. Collation: [1-28]: 16 sheets. Goff H