Sermones Giliberti Super Canticorum, Strasbourg: Martin Flach, 1497 [per colophon]: Sermones isti Gilberti super cantica canticorum impressi sunt Argentine per Martinum flach inibi concinem. Anno domnini MCCCCXCVII, folio.
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INCUNABLE PRINTING: A beautiful incunable printing from the famous Strasbourg printer, Martin Flach. This work is by Gilbert of Hoyland, an English Cistercian abbot who is best known for this work which is an exegetical work on the Song of Songs, continuing the tradition of Bernard of Clairvaux, who this work is often bound alongside, though is not bound with this copy. This work collates as textually complete, and is a wonderful example of one of the earliest printed books produced during the infancy of the printing press, right at the close of the late medieval period.
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Size: 215 x 306 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[(2), *4, A8, B-I7, K-L7, (2)]
Modern full calf decorated in gilt. Two tooled labels to the head of the spine with the date tooled in gilt to the foot, in compartments between raised bands. Very attractive on the shelf. Binding a little rubbed with some minor shelf wear. Both boards are securely attached. Collates as complete through the text, but lacks the final blank L8. This edition does not call for a title leaf. Very clean throughout the full text block, without marginalia or rubrication. Mild toning, but generally an excellent copy of this exegetical work on the Song of Songs.
[Goff B430*; GW 3937; USTC 743405*].
*Goff cites this title as its own work which is added to Bernardus Claravallensis, where USTC records it as part of the Bernard of Clairvaux title as they are so frequently bound together, and so this title could be considered either as part two of a larger work only, or as a stand-alone work. The latter seems far more appropriate given that it is by a different author with its own collation, colophon, etc, and is simply typically bound alongside the other work by Bernard.
