Opera. Q. Septimii Florentis Tertulliani inter Latinos ecclesiae scriptores primi, sine quorum lectione nullum diem intermittebat olim diuus Cyprianus, per Beatum Rhenanum Seletstadiensem e tenebris [...]. Basel: Johann Froben, 1521, folio.
AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THE EDITIO PRINCEPS OF THE COLLECTED WORKS OF TERTULLIAN, FINELY PRINTED BY JOHANN FROBEN. THE STUDY COPY OF THE IMPORTANT BENEDICTINE CONGREGATION OF ST. MAUR.
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Tertullian is one of the most significant early Christian theologians, though generally not considered to be a Church Father due to accepting Montanism, he was an important writer, being the first extant to extensively write in Latin, the first to use the word "Trinity" and the phrase "una Substantia, tres Personae" (one Substance, three Persons), and contribute extensively to early understandings of Christology. He wrote bold defences of Christianity, arguing for Christian moral superiority over Paganism. The influence of his works cannot be overstated, and it is in his writings that we find the roots of the theology of baptism, prayer, fasting, martyrdom, marriage, discipline (he was ascetic), and many other more practical concepts which deeply influence the development of Christian theology to this day.
This copy of the editio princeps (first edition) of Tertullian's collected works was a study copy for the use of the important 17th century Benedictine Congregation of St. Maur who were well known for their high level of scholarship. "Their historical and critical school produced a number of works of scholarship which still are of permanent value... The full Maurist bibliography contains the names of some 220 writers and more than 700 works." This was their copy of Tertullian's works and includes extensive marginalia which is sure to profitably reward the study of anyone interested in the early modern reception of Tertullian's writings, particularly in the context of the important 17th-18th century historians of the early Church listed below.
This copy was studied by important 17th and 18th century Maurists such as Antoine-Joseph Pernety (the founder of the secret society The Illuminati of Avignon), Dom Jacques Alexandre (a scientist), Joseph Vaissete (important geographer who named the Ivory Coast), Thierry Ruinart (Church historian, especially of martyrology), Bernard de Montfaucon (who founded the discipline of Palaeography and was a founder of the study of archaeology alongside being an editor of the works of the Fathers of the Church), Maurus Dantine (an important Church historian), Leger Marie Deschamps (an important French philosopher who corresponded with many leaders of the French Enlightenment and was hailed as a precursor of Hegel), Pierre Coustant (one of the greatest scholars of Augustine and especially of Hilary of Poitiers), Luc d'Archery (the librarian of the St. Maur Congregation and a noted bibliographer), Jean Mabillon (an important but controversial theologian), and many others. Most of these aforementioned persons also collaborated with each other.
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Size: 214 x 318 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[(1), a6, b8, a-n6, o5, p-z6, A-Z6, Aa-Dd6, Ee8, Ff-Ii6, Kk10, (1)]
Very finely printed with stunning typography, numerous fine engraved capitals and borders, wide margins. Mid to late 16th century binding, probably French and circa 1580, full calf with boards lined in double-gilt, the same to spine compartments between raised bands. Gilt title to upper spine but faded. Binding rubbed with the leather a bit dry, with both boards securely attached, the binding secure, standing vertically on the shelf without falling. Unrestored, and so very charming indeed, particularly as this is the same binding which would have been in the St. Maur library being handled by those important Maurist writers.
391 of 392 leaves, lacks o6, provided in MS facsimile on nice paper with circa early 19th century watermarks, loose at the front of the binding. 13th century MS fragment used in the binding which is visible in the gutter of the pastedowns (unidentified). Blanks are present at each end of the text, but these are contemporaneous with the binding (circa 1580). Some marginal dampstaining to the first two gatherings (a-b8) and in the outer marginal space to P-V gatherings. Gathering g with some leaves misbound in order but all are present. Final leaf of the index torn in lower outer corner, minor text loss, not touching the attractive large printer's device on the verso. Extensive marginalia in several different hands throughout the entire text. Else generally very bright and clean throughout the text, legible without loss of sense. An excellent copy, especially for the provenance and unrestored state, being the greatest obtainable copy of the very rare editio princeps of Tertullian's works.
[VD16 T559; USTC 679658; OCLC 491159675 (for collation), 995785698].
