Description
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.
Provenance
Storer, Bellamy, 1796-1875, former owner.