The Chronicles of Martin Luther 1549 Post Incunable
The Chronicles of Martin Luther 1549 Post Incunable
Couldn't load pickup availability
Commentaria Joannis Cochlaei, de Actis et Scriptis Martini Lutheri Saxonis, Chronographice, Ex ordine ab Anno Domini MDXVII usq ad Annum MDXLVI, Inclusiue, fideliter conscripta. [...]. Pars altera, quae est de Dogmatibus et Sermonibus Lutheri, non potuit ad has Nundinas excudi. Mainz: Francisci Behem, 1549, folio.
THE RARE FIRST EDITION OF THIS IMPORTANT ANTI-REFORMATION, PRO-CATHOLIC WORK CHRONICLING THE ACTS AND WRITINGS OF MARTIN LUTHER. A REMARKABLE COPY WITH EXCEPTIONAL PROVENANCE.
-------------------
A rare and significant Catholic polemic against Martin Luther, chronicling his life and writings from 1517 to 1546. Written by one of Luther's fiercest opponents, Cochlaeus’ work gives a very interesting contemporary insight into Reformation controversies, viewed through the perspective of a committed Catholic apologist. The remarkable provenance of this copy links it directly to early Catholic scholarship during the Reformation.
Also worthy of note, Johann Cochlaeus, the author of this book, played a significant role in the flight of William Tyndale from Cologne to Worms in 1525. His account, written on pp.132–135 of this book, is one of the earliest recorded descriptions of Tyndale’s clandestine printing of the English New Testament and the subsequent disruption of his efforts. Cochlaeus, while in Cologne, learned of Tyndale’s secretive work and alerted the authorities, leading to Tyndale’s flight. This makes this a very important book in the history of the English Bible, offering a rare Catholic perspective on Tyndale’s mission and demonstrating how an English Bible was viewed as a direct threat to Catholic orthodoxy.
-------------------
Provenance:
Early inscription of Fr Joannem Tay, likely the original owner, circa 16th century. There's an extensive inscription to the foot of pp.86-87 seemingly in the same hand as Fr Tay's ownership inscription to the title page. Likely by descent to the ownership inscriptions to the head of the printer's device leaf dated 1605-1607. Circa 19th/20th century bookplate of Ramsgate Abbey to front pastedown.
-------------------
Size: 198 x 305 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[(1), a¹–a⁶, b¹–b⁶, c✿¹–c✿⁴, A¹–Z⁶, 2A¹–2D⁶, 2E¹–2E⁸, (1)]
Circa early 18th century full calf binding, the spine decoratively tooled in gilt with floral motifs, an early manuscript date label pasted to the foot, with a modern tooled title label. Binding rubbed but remains very attractive. Both boards are securely attached, the binding is secure with joints and hinges uncracked. Bookplate attached to front pastedown with several ownership inscriptions in various places throughout, but generally to the title page and final leaf. Sporadic contemporary marginalia throughout, including a fine manicule in the section on Tyndale. Textually collates as complete though with the original blanks now replaced with sympathetically added early 18th-century blanks commensurate with the binding. Generally very clean throughout the text, a few minor stains but overall a crisp, well preserved copy of this important & rare first edition. VD16 remarks that this book is related to the Historia Hussitarum, but it's clear that these are in fact distinct works, just published simultaneously.
[VD16 C4326; OCLC 18517832; Adams C2252].























