LUDOLPH of Saxony
Vita Christi. Nuremberg, Anton Koberger, 20 December 1478.
Two volumes, imperial folio, ff. [372]; [a–m8 n6 o–z8 [et]6 A–Z8]; gothic type printed in two columns, f. 1r bearing contemporary south German illumination comprising an initial ‘F’ in green against a red and gold ground and with extensive marginal decoration of scrolling foliage incorporating two bearded faces, a frog, three birds, and a monkey wearing pointed red shoes and grasping a rope, first leaf of text [a4] bearing a large initial ‘D’ composed of blue foliage against a burnished and overpainted gold ground and containing the blessing Christ before a richly woven cloth held up by an angel with wings spread, first initial in vol. II in the form of a fish and acanthus leaves against a ground of blue, green and dark pink quatrefoils within a green frame infilled with gold, smaller initials and paraphs in red or blue (some highlighted with a yellow wash), yellow initial strokes, some headings and chapter titles with a coloured wash (presumably once yellow, now darkened), the names of three of the Evangelists written in red in margins of [Y1]; illumination on first leaf trimmed at top and foredge (the foot of the leaf folded up to retain the decoration), [a4] with section of decoration excised at foot and also trimmed at margins, [A1] with decoration at foot cut away, [C1.8] strengthened along gutter, a few small wormholes (more at end of vol. II), final leaf in vol. II somewhat worn, occasional light staining or soiling, but a good crisp copy; bound in eighteenth-century German vellum stained purple (now mostly faded) over pasteboard, green vellum lettering-pieces, blue patterned edges; rubbed, tear in vellum of upper cover of vol. II, flyleaves removed, small paper labels at foot of upper covers; annotations to c. 15 pp. in an early sixteenth-century hand, and to c. 50 pp. in a late sixteenth- or early seventeenth-century hand, various manicules, clipping from an English sale catalogue pasted to inside front cover with the price £10-10-0 in pencil, with the bookplates of Bishop John Vertue (1826–1900).
04.08.2026 - 19:41
60000,- EUR
Bernard Quaritch Ltd.
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