Auctores Historiae Ecclesiasticae Eusebii Pamphili Caesariensis libri nouem, Ruffino interprete. [...]. Basel: [heirs of] Johannes Froben, 1535, folio.
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A finely printed Latin edition of Eusebius' foundational Ecclesiastical History, translated and expanded by Rufinus of Aquileia, chronicling the development of the early Christian Church through the early 5th century. Printed by the heirs of the celebrated humanist printer Johannes Froben, this edition embodies the typographical elegance and scholarly ambition characteristic of Froben's press during the Reformation era, with his famous printer's device to the title and final leaf. Bound in a beautiful contemporary blindstamped vellum binding characteristic of German binderies in the 1560s, possibly attributable to Matthias Gartner who was active in Augsburg, but is unsigned. There is also some 15th century manuscript vellum binder's waste present and visible in the hinges. This is a stunning edition of this significant work, important for the study of early Church history and humanist engagement with patristic texts.
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Provenance:
Extensive marginalia, probably from a humanist reformer's hand, dateable to 1564, and attributable to "Doctor Iacobo Philippo", particularly extensive through the second part of the book, from a clearly well learned individual, referencing a large number of important Early Church Fathers, particularly Athanasius, written in Greek and Latin, as well as abundant references to Nicaea and various Ante-Nicene Fathers. The marginalia would be extremely interesting to study as it is very legible and well preserved.
German ownership inscription to foot of main title dated 1813 in a very neat hand, with a slightly later pencil inscription to the pastedown which includes a collation, so presumably originates from a book dealer, c. late 19th century.
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Size: 223 x 324 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[aa⁶, a-t⁶, u-x⁸, y-z⁶, A-Z⁶, 2A-2I⁶, αa-ξo⁴, op⁶, α-γ⁶, δ⁸]
Collated as complete, bound without blanks. Manuscript binder's waste visible to both hinges, rubricated, circa the second to third quarter of the 15th century. Contemporary full vellum over wooden boards, the vellum being finely stamped in blind in the typical mid 16th century German manner, decorated with repeating rolls of Christian figures alongside floral motifs encompassing a panelled design. The binding is rubbed and discoloured, making identification of the figures challenging, though not impossible, one appears to depict St Jerome. Both clasps remain intact and functional, though, as typical, a little tight when first closed, but settle in with time. Both boards are securely attached. The binding is secure and stands without shelf lean. Page edges without writing, likely a privately owned copy originally. Extensive marginalia through the first few leaves, then relatively sporadic throughout, until the second part of the book, where the marginalia becomes very extensive. Generally exceptionally clean throughout the text block, free from dampstaining/foxing, internally excellent. Some provenance related inscriptions to front and rear pastedowns and main title. An excellent example of a very rare post incunable edition of Eusebius.
