Beschreibung:

THOMAS AQUINAS (1225-1274). Super quarto libro Sententiarum Petri Lombardi . Venice: [Johannes Herbort, de Seligenstadt], for Johannes de Colonia, Nicolaus Jenson et Socii, 24 June 1481. A fine copy in a contemporary Cologne binding. Peter Lombard's Four Books of Sentences , the standard textbook of theology at medieval universities, was the most commented upon work of Christian literature apart from the Bible itself, no commentary being more important than that of Aquinas. This is the fourth edition of his commentary on Lombard's fourth book, dealing with the sacraments which mediate God's grace. The device at the end is that of Joh. de Colonia, Jenson & Co., and is found only in such of Herbort's books as were printed for the firm (1480-81). HC *1484; BMC V, 301; BSB-Ink T-266; CIBN T-161; Bod-inc T-157; Goff T-171. Chancery folio (295 x 200mm). Opening 16-line initial in interlocking red and blue with foliate decoration in brown, other capitals in red/blue, paragraph marks and underlining in red. H2v with device printed in red [Kristeller 238]. (Without blank a1, worming from quire C to end slightly affecting text but largely limited to bottom margin or blank space between columns). Contemporary blind-panelled calf over wooden boards attributed to a Cologne bindery, tolled with Agnus Dei, rampant lion, star, rosette and other tools, five metal bosses, brass cornerpieces with legend 'Maria gracia paria' and two clasps, plain spine, title lettered on upper cover and on fore-edges (rebacked with original backstrip, free endpapers lacking). Provenance : neatly contemporary marginalia in red or black ink -- stamp removed from first leaf.