Ian Ehling
Head of Department
Printed Books and Manuscripts to 1700
Lot 22
LUDOLPHUS DE SAXONIA. C.1300-1377/8. Le Grant Vita Christi. Translated from Latin into French by Guillaume Lemenand. Paris: Antoine Verard, [between October 1499 and July 1503].
13 December 2022, 11:00 EST
New YorkSold for US$2,550 inc. premium
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Darren Sutherland
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LUDOLPHUS DE SAXONIA. C.1300-1377/8.
Le Grant Vita Christi. Translated from Latin into French by Guillaume Lemenand. Paris: Antoine Verard, [between October 1499 and July 1503].
4 parts in 2 volumes, median folio (334 x 226 mm). 498 leaves (of 508, a1, 8 and TT1-8 supplied in facsimile). 53 lines and headline, double column. Volume 2 opening with xylographic title with grotesque initial L [Macfarlane 9], full-page Crucifixion woodcut on title verso (lacking first title), two half-page woodcuts and 116 smaller woodcuts, woodcut device [Macfarlane illus. LXXVII] in first volumes, woodcut grotesque and decorated initials. Modern calf, spines gilt lettered, edges gilt. Some light browning and staining. Some leaves with marginal repairs, vol 2 with E1-G2 lower blank margin renewed sometimes affecting collation mark.
Third French edition of the Life of Christ, the first printed by Verard, one of the most important and popular devotional works of the later Middle Ages. A biography of Jesus augmented by commentary from the Church Fathers and various dogmatic and spiritual instructions, was studied predominantly in religious orders, and printed copies are known in Latin, French, German, Catalan, Dutch, and Portuguese. VERY RARE: According to American Book Prices Current only one other incomplete set sold at auction in the past 45 years. ISTC records seven copies, all but one imperfect. HC 10298; CIBN L-276; Hillard 1251; Macfarlane, Verard, 138; Davies, Murray French, 343; Goff L-359.
4 parts in 2 volumes, median folio (334 x 226 mm). 498 leaves (of 508, a1, 8 and TT1-8 supplied in facsimile). 53 lines and headline, double column. Volume 2 opening with xylographic title with grotesque initial L [Macfarlane 9], full-page Crucifixion woodcut on title verso (lacking first title), two half-page woodcuts and 116 smaller woodcuts, woodcut device [Macfarlane illus. LXXVII] in first volumes, woodcut grotesque and decorated initials. Modern calf, spines gilt lettered, edges gilt. Some light browning and staining. Some leaves with marginal repairs, vol 2 with E1-G2 lower blank margin renewed sometimes affecting collation mark.
Third French edition of the Life of Christ, the first printed by Verard, one of the most important and popular devotional works of the later Middle Ages. A biography of Jesus augmented by commentary from the Church Fathers and various dogmatic and spiritual instructions, was studied predominantly in religious orders, and printed copies are known in Latin, French, German, Catalan, Dutch, and Portuguese. VERY RARE: According to American Book Prices Current only one other incomplete set sold at auction in the past 45 years. ISTC records seven copies, all but one imperfect. HC 10298; CIBN L-276; Hillard 1251; Macfarlane, Verard, 138; Davies, Murray French, 343; Goff L-359.