Summa Theologiae, Volume 1, 1581.
Theology, Philosophy, Church Doctrine
Volume 1 from a set of the Summa Theologiae in Latin from 1581. This set has 4 volumes and each item is 34 cm tall. This particular volume is 25 cm long and 5.5 cm wide. There is a bookplate in the front cover bearing the name “Wallworth” and a coat of arms. This set was published in Lyon, France. This particular item is one of our oldest copies of the Summa, which makes it a point of interest, but another reason is that surrounding the text of the Questions and Articles is commentary, which creates a striking visual compared to the other sets that we have. This commentary is from Thomas de Vio Cajetan, who was the Master of the Order of Preachers from 1508-18 and a Cardinal. Cardinal Cajetan is best known for his defense of the Catholic Church against Martin Luther during the Reformation.
St. Thomas Aquinas
Lugduni : apud Ioannam Iacobi Iuntae
1581
34 cm tall, 25 cm long and 5.5 cm wide
Latin
Super Epistolas Sancti Pauli
Biblical Commentary, St. Paul
This second incunabula is from 1498, printed by Boneto Locatelli, and published by Ottoviano Scotto in Venice. It is a printing of Aquinas’s Super Epistolas Sancti Pauli, or his commentary on the Letters of St. Paul. This example is in Latin, 261 leaves, and is approximately 21.5 cm long, 29 cm tall, and 4.5 cm wide. Although an imperfect copy, with some of the text being slightly offset and some trimming grazing the text, it is still an interesting copy with early marginalia and woodcut initials. This is a wonderful copy, not only because of its physical quirks, but also because it is an example of one of St. Thomas’s Biblical commentaries. This copy, along with the manuscript of his Commentary of Book IV of the Sentences of Peter Lombard, offer snippets of his explanations of some of the most important works in Western Christianity.
St. Thomas Aquinas
Locatelli, Boneto, fl. 1486-1523, printer.
Scotto, Ottaviano, d. 1498, publisher.
Venice
22 Dec. 1498
21.5 cm long, 29 cm tall, and 4.5 cm wide
Latin
Super Secundo libro Sententiarum Petri Lombardi
Theology, Scholasticism, Peter Lombard
This first incunabula is a larger book, which is quite imposing at first glance. The first thing you notice is the solid wood cover covered in pig skin (which is contemporary) and has metal clasps; it is one of only two books in this exhibit that have metal clasps. Unfortunately, one of the clasps has broken off at some point. This is an example of St. Thomas Aquinas’ Super Secundo libro Sententiarum Petri Lombardi. Our copy is certainly interesting to look at, as it has hand painted initials in red, the first being in red and blue. There is also rubrication throughout. Originally printed in Cologne in 1481, this incunabula is in Latin with 338 leaves, and it is approximately 21.5 cm long, 28 cm tall, and 9 cm wide. Although we have another copy of his Commentaries on the Sentences of Peter Lombard featured in this exhibit, it worth contrasting the two copies, as this is Book II of the Sentences of Peter Lombard, as opposed to our manuscript copy of Book IV. Also, the production methods are significantly different.
St. Thomas Aquinas
Cologne : impressum ... Henricum Quentell
8 Sept. 1481
21.5 cm long, 28 cm tall, and 9 cm wide
Latin