Month: November 2015

January 6, 2010

PRINTED 1478: THE GREAT MEDIEVAL FRANCISCAN TEXT


A Very Rare, Early Incunable and an Unusual Uncut Copy

The Incunable:

[Marchesinus, Johannes ] Mammotrectus super Bibliam. Venice : Franciscus Renner, de Heilbronn, and Petrus de Bartua, 1478. 260 ff., the first blank (later) plus vellum rear blank; 4to., 234 x 172 mm., some occasional minor browning and spotting, but overall a complete, fine, and very pleasing copy. A HIGHLY UNUSUAL UNCUT and UNSOPHITICATED COPY, ENTIRELY UNRUBRICATED AND WITH EXCEEDINGLY LARGE MARGINS, whose sheets likely lain in quires and were never bound before receiving their present 19th century binding of boards and calf with raised bands. Late 15th century blotted inscription to lower margin of a1: “hic liber pertinet ad loci sancti Laurentii de Bibiena, in banco sexto in latere dextro,” stating the precise location of the text in what appears to have been the Library of the Convent housing the Minor Franciscan friars of San Lorenzo in Bibiena, Italy. A medieval manuscript in the Walters Art Museum bears a similar inscription.

“Compiled by a thirteenth-century Franciscan at Reggio, near Modena, the Mammotrectus is a manual for the lower clergy with short entries explaining difficult terms and concepts encountered in the Bible. The homely metaphor of the title refers to the “maternal milk,” or nourishment, offered by this text. Its early popularity did not survive the Reformation; already in May of 1515, Erasmus of Rotterdam had criticized those priests who still depended upon the Mammotrectus. ” {reF; “http://smu.edu/bridwell/specialcollections/schoeffer/mammotrectus.htm”]. The first book from the press of Franciscus Renner de Heilbronn is dated 1471 which might indicate when the German printer began printing in Venice. From 1473 to 1477 he worked in partnership with Nicolaus de Frankfordia, the period under which this work was issued.

posted in: Rare Books

January 6, 2010

HIGHLY IMPORTANT 1388 MEDIEVAL SPANISH MANUSCRIPT

FOUNDING DOCUMENT OF THE CITY OF Magán, Spain

A 14th century copy of the 1298 original (apparently now lost) by Don Pedro Tenorio, the famous Archbishop of Toledo

The Manuscript:

[Medieval Spanish Manuscript on Vellum] [Toledo, Spain, 1298, this copy executed in 1388] Size: 64 x 38 cm., ” Translado de fundación del Mayorazgo [la aldea] de Magán por Garci Manes, alcade mayor de Toledo [que ortogo] el 9 de enero de la era de 1298 [ano 1260], cuyo original se deposito en el Sagrario dela St. Iglesia Primada de Toledo enel ano x1388, pro mandado de Don Pedro Tenorio, dando una copa a cade uno delos interasados que acudienon apedirala. ” Verso with original 1388 copy, recto with numerous 17th century additions and explanatory text. Partial Tear to one fold not affecting manuscript. Overall, Very Good as depicted. [$6500]

A Highly important medieval Spanish document from several standpoints. For the history of Spanish law, it represents one of the earliest obtainable examples of a “Mayorazgo,” this one being particularly important as it established the city of Magán near Toledo. The Mayorazgo, which granted hereditary rights (generally solely to the first male heir), was a very important legal development under Alfonso X, who established the foundation of Iberian law which stood for centuries. “As a ruler, Alfonso X showed legislative capacity, and a wish to provide the kingdoms expanded under his father with a code of laws and a consistent judicial system. He began medieval Europe’s most comprehensive code of law, the Siete Partidas, which, however, thwarted by the nobility of Castile, was only promulgated by his great-grandson. Because of this, and because the Partidas remain fundamental law in the American Southwest, he is one of the 23 lawmakers depicted in the House of Representatives chamber of the United States Capitol. ” [Wikipedia]

The document states that this is a 14th century copy, executed in 1388, of the original which was deposited for safekeeping in the archives of the Cathedral of Toledo under the direction and hand of Don Pedro Tenorio, the famous Cardinal Archbishop of Toledo, to whom the city owes her glory almost as much as to her Kings. This copy appears signed D.P. Arzobispo Toledo, but this may be a secretarial signature. Another copy of the document, and what appears to be a tertiary copy (i.e. another or later copy- the original 1298 one likely lost) is cited by that magnificent reference work, the Indice de la Colección de don Luis de Salazar y Castro, as being held as Manuscript 50.940 by the Real Academia de la Historia. [Ref: “‪Indice de la colección de don Luis de Salazar y Castro, Volumes 32-33‬‎ – Page 99; Manuscript 50.940. Published: Real Academia de la Historia]

The copy in the Real Academia de la Historia, was collected by great manuscript collector, the Thomas Phillips of Spain: Luis de Salazar. “Luis de Salazar y Castro (Valladolid, 1658 – Madrid, 1734), called by some the prince of the genealogists, is one of the most quoted writers Spanish. The collection of documents gathered throughout his life, preserved in the Royal Academy of History of Spain, is one of the basic sources for the investigation of the Iberian lineage. ”

Such a founding manuscript of a Spanish town, even if a 14th century copy of the the 13th century original, is of extreme rarity outside of Spanish Institutional holdings.

posted in: Uncategorized