Rare books from James Gray Bookseller

Augsburg: Hagenau(Augsburg): Heinrich Gran, for Johannes Rynman, 30 September, 1501. [imp[re]ssi ... p[er] industriu[m] Henricu[m] Gran i[, 1501. Folio π6 [chi]6 a-b8 c6 d-e8 f6 g-h8 i6 k-l8 m6 n-o8 p6 q-s8 t6 v-x8 y6 z8 A8 B6 C-D8 E6 F-G8H6 I-K8 L6 M-N8 O6 P-Q8 R6 S-T8 U6 X-Y8 Z6 [&]8 l[eaves 12 and 358 blank ]. ( 13, 357 ff. ). This copy is bound contemporary blind-stamped leather over wooden boards from an Augsburg workshop operating between 1482 and 15. ISTC ip00252500, citing holdings at 15 locations globally with none in the US or UK; ISTC No.ip00252500; Hain 12557*; VD16 P1165; Sajó-Soltész p. 767; Günt(L) p.65; Wilhelmi 479a; GW M30525. Hagenau(Augsburg): Heinrich Gran, for Johannes Rynman, 30 September, 1501. [imp[re]ssi ... p[er] industriu[m] Henricu[m] Gran i[n] imp[eri]ali oppido Hagenaw: expe[n]sis ac su[m]ptib[us] p[ro]uidi Joha[n]nis Rynman Finiu[n]t feliciter: Anno ... millesimoq[ui]nge[n]tesimoprimo. vltimo die Septe[m]bris] , (1430-1504). ¶ There is Early monastic ink title… Read More

[Ulm: Johann Zainer, not after 1479] (A copy now in Munich BSB has an ownership inscription dated 1479). [Peregrinus de Oppeln]. [daran: Quadragesimale] / [Jacobus de Voragine]. [und: Concordantia in passionem dominicam] / [Nicolaus de Dinkelsbuel]. Rubicated throughout. Bound in Calf over wooden boards, with catches and clasp restored.rebacked back restored using old material, cover covers rubbed and with small missing parts).I have located only two U.S.copies both defective. 238JPeregrinus: Sermones de tempore et de sanctis. Add: Jacobus de Voragine: Quadragesimale. Nicolaus de Dinkelsbuel: Concordantia in passionem dominicam Est autem huius operis ordo talis. Primo ponuntur sermones d[omi]nicales de tempore per anni circulu[m]. Secundo de sanctis, Tercio q[ua]dragesimale Jacobi de Foragine, Q[ua]rto concordantia quatuor euangelista[rum] in passiiones d[omi]nicam a magistro Nicolao Dinckelspubell collectam."/ At end of leaf m8: "Sermones Peregrini de tempore finiunt. ¶ Folio. "Pars I (188): a-d8,… Read More

Venice: Simon de Luere for Andreas Torresanus, 4 September 1500, 1500. Second edition after that of 1481. This copy is bound in contemporary 1/4 blind-tooled goatskin over wooden boards with 3 (of 4) metal catches on front cover, rebacked retaining most of original backstrip, conspicuous termite damage on front cover, rear cover replaced with modern board, endpapers renewed; contents washed with residual soiling on opening leaves, worming through much of volume generally not impairing legibility, crude restoration in blank margins at beginning and end .G Ethica Nicomachea, Books 1-10, in the Latin translation of Robertus Grosseteste( 1175-1253) , incipit "[O]Mnis ars et om[n]is doctrina similiter aut[em] [et] actus [et] electio bonum quodda[m] ap=pete[re] videt[ur]. J[de]o b[e]n[e] enunciaueru[n]t bonu[m] q[uo]d omnia appetu[n]t", b1r-y9v; colophon (Venetijs impresse arte Simonis de Leure: impensis v[ir]o domini Andree Torresani de Asula. Anno M.D. die v[er]o, IIIJ. Septebris.,), y10r; printer's… Read More

Vienne (France) & Basil: Eberhard Frommolt & Basel: Johann Amerbach, 1480. More than one hundred editions of the Postilla super epistolas et evangelia by Guillermus Parisiensis were printed during the fifteenth century. Folio. 26.8 x 18 cm. Signatures: [a-x⁸ y-z⁶]. 178 of 180 (wanting blanks leaves 40 lines. This copy is bound in an Antiphonal leaf. Goff, "The Postilla of Guillermus Parisiensis," Gutenberg-Jahrbuch 1959, p. 73). The Postilla provide commentary on the Gospels to be read each Sunday and festival. The text is surviving in numerous early manuscripts,yet its authorship remains uncertain, but current consensus recognises much of the base as Johann Herolt's work, edited and augmented by Guillermus, a Dominican friar of Paris. "More than one hundred editions of the Postilla super epistolas et evangelia by Guillermus Parisiensis were printed during the fifteenth century. Surely this esteemed compilation must be regarded as one of the earliest 'best sellers', for how else can one explain… Read More

[Köln] : [Southern Germany : n.pr., about 1480-90?] or [Cologne? : n.pr., about 1483] or [Ludwig von Renchen?], 1483 Deutschla, 1480. First Edition. First edition. - First blank almost loose, with backed tear and torn of corner as well as "Rosarium sup(er) bibliam" in old handwriting, flyleaf with purchase note dated 1908, small water stain on the bottom corner in the first half of the work, slightly soiled and tanned. - Wide margined copy from the Wican Free Public Library (blind stamp and bookplate). - 19th centuy half vellum (slightly scrachted and scuffed). Rubricated and initials supplied in red and blue. ¶ This is one of the earliest printed books on the ars memorativa or mnemotechnics the rare first edition of the Roseum memoriale composed by the German Benedictine monk Petrus of Rosenhaym (Upper Bavaria), written between 1423 and 1426 for Cardinal Giulio Branda di Castiglione. Petrus of Rosenhaym composed numerous treatises, sermons, and verses: the Roseum memoriale is surely his most… Read More

Leipzig: Gregorius Böttiger (aka Werman), 1495. Editio princeps. his copy is bound in modern parchment housed in a custom slipcase.. Goff B39; H 2345*; GfT GfT: Gesellschaft für Typenkunde des XV. Jahrhunderts. Veröffentlichungen. 33 parts. Leipzig [etc], 1907-39. 521, 522; Pell 1753; BSB-Ink B-25; GW 3216; ISTC ib00039000. Balthasar de Porta's Canon Missae, also contains the the proposal of the Exposition of the Eucharist before the celebration of mass . This commentary on the Mass, has verses taken from the Jesuida of Hieronymus de Vallibus, which are used in the appropriate context to illustrate or emphasize the author's meaning. We know very few facts about the life of Balthasar de Porta , a Cistercian monk who served as Provisor at the order's College (Saint Bernard) at Leipzig until about 1499. In the same years, he also published another work about Mass, the Expositio mysteriorum missae (Leipzig: Kacheloven, 1494) and a work on the heretical Bohemian Brethren, Conclusiones contra quorundam… Read More

Lyptzck [Leipzig]: Gregor Böttiger, 1495. Bound in half leather of the 19th century, with quite a bit contemporary marginalia.(see below). ISTC il00099000 Goff L99; IBP 3382; Madsen 2157; Voull(B) 1383; Günt(L) 1205; Hubay(Würzburg) 1187; Pad-Ink 375; Wilhelmi 387; BSB-Ink L-71.050; GW 13880. Not in Hain, BMC, STC et c. https://data.cerl.org/istc/il00099000 Copies; United States of America : 1) Library of Congress 2) Univ. of California, Law Library. This "Soap of the Conscience" is filled with morally instructive stories intended to keep priests faithful to their vows and safe from worldly temptations, lest they suffer the "harshest punishments" of hell. In this work he tries in numerous moral and instructive stories to prove the nullity of worldly joys. Born in Gruitrode ca. 1400-10, Jacobus van Eertwach was a Carthusian monk who served as an abbot of the prior of the Liege from 1440 until his death in 1475, during which time he produced numerous works of spiritual guidance for both clergy and… Read More

Venice: Erhardus Ratdolt augustensis solerti vir ingenio maxima ...,1483. $13,500, 1483. Quarto; 23 x 17 mm. π10 a-v8 x10 (π1,a1 and x10 are blank and missing). This copy is bound in very nice old vellum. Previously owned by the Xavier Givaudan Library (1867-1966). Goff; E-117; BMC V, p. 287-288 (IA. 20527).; GW; 9433; Hain-Copinger; 6717*; Pellechet 4634; ISTC ie00117000; Thacher; 287. Redgrave, Ratdolt 36. IBE 2338. The Chronicles of Eusebius was composed in 310, the original Greek text was lost and IMG_1888survived due to its translation into Latin and Armenian. Eusebius was one of the most learned men of his time and wrote in the service of Christianity this chronology "in order to establish on solid foundations the confidence that the historical books of the Old Testament deserve" (Friedrich Schoell, History of secular Greek literature, 2nd edition, T6, Paris, 1824). The editing work of this chronology of Eusebius is very interesting because it is based on the Latin translation of… Read More

Cologne: Quentell, 1492. This copy has rubrication on the first few pages with a very nice Lombard initial at the beginning of the text. Quarto. 19 X 14 cm Signatures: a-g⁶ [Lacks leaves g 3.4; GW notes: "In einem Teil der Aufl. fehlt das Doppelbl. g3.4, dessen Ausfall keine merkliche Störung des Textes bedeutet."] {"In part of the edition the double sheet g3.4 is missing, the failure of which does not mean any noticeable disturbance of the text.}. Accipies Woodcut" used by Quentell; depicting St Gregory instructs two scholars, this was used from 1491 to 1495, This is designated as 'A i' or the first woodblock of this he used. cf. Proctor. Bibliographical Essays, pages 1-12.. The large woodcut on the title page has the famous inscription "Accipies tanti doctoris dogmata sancta"- ( ("You will receive the sacred tenets of a great doctor")) This is the first of several woodcuts known as the "Accipies Woodcut" used by Quentell; depicting St Gregory instructs two scholars, this was used from 1491 to… Read More

Although the author of Ars moriendi is not known, the book is believed to have been written in Southern Germany at the time of the Council of Constance (1414-1418). with Friar Reginaldette, Is noted for his position as a peritus at the Council of Basel in 1434 A.D..
The title "Speculum finalis retributionis tam bonorum operum quam malorum" wass added by the translator Totani , but the information is taken from the text which follows. The Totani family is from L'Aquila in Italy, and perhaps it was the memory and example of St. Bernadine of Sienna, who had died there nearly a half century earlier, that prompted Friar Guillermo to preserve this work of Franciscan preaching, which is so characteristic of the reform in the Order of the Friars Minor, which the Saint had promoted.
Friar Reginaldette, Is noted for his position as a peritus at the Council of Basel in 1434 A.D..
The title "Speculum finalis retributionis tam bonorum operum quam malorum" wass added by the translator Totani , but the… Read More

Cologne: Johann Landen, 1501. In this edition A Woodcut appears three times, on title, title verso, and verso of final leaf (margin of f. 2 slightly extended, occasional damp stains at gutter and edges, a few leaves in gathering O stained and one with short closed tear). Bound in modern vellum with manuscript antiphonal leaf reused as pastedowns. A very nice copy A Woodcut appears three times, on title, title verso, and verso of final leaf (margin of f. 2 slightly extended, occasional damp stains at gutter and edges, a few leaves in gathering O stained and one with short closed tear).. In this copy there are lombard initials in red and blue, one with dog-head decoration, red capital strokes, paragraph marks, and underlining.. The German Mystics of the fourteenth century, Meister Eckhart, Johannes Tauler and Heinrich Suso, seemed to be constantly Willing the ability of Unwillingness. Perhaps Eckhart is the most profoundly speculatively blunt so much so that he was accused of heresy and brought up… Read More

Leipzig: Conrad Kachelofen, 1490. One of the first printed works with German translations of Seneca. There are some small but interesting variations in this book. From the copy of the same edition available to see on BSB #M214: Electronic facsimile: Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, München For example the München copy has different spacing of the type causing line endings to be crushed. The copy I offer has line 1 ending credulita while the München ends in cerdulit by line 2 in Sed, in the München ends S3. On line #12 of our copy ends qui while the München copy ends Quitu textually it makes no difference, but mechanically it tells a rather weird story, did they have two sets of type? And two different setters? Did the setters have a choice when and when not to use abbreviations (or is it where and where not to?) well I can imagine too many scenarios to list here. Bound in modern boards covered with an antiphonal leaf. All the capitals are stroked in red There are contemporary manuscript annotations… Read More

Paris: Guillaume Godard, 1514. First Edition. This copy is bound in 20th century full calf expertly gilt with a combination of pallets, gouges and decorative devices.  Front pastedown with bookplate of Bernd Oetter and some early notes. Condition: Binding with some very light scuffs or areas of light rubbing to extremities. Some very light soiling to some margins but mostly quite clean throughout, some initials blurred or rubbed. An exceptional copy, beautifully bound and housed in a protective custom cloth case. Printed on vellum, trimmed close and with tight inner margins as printed. The initials are in red and gold or blue and gold. The title has the mark go Godard, ant it is followed by an Almanac and calendar for 1514-1530, Before the calendar there is. Horae B.M.V. (Tenschert & Nettekoven); Nº 81;  Bohatta 968; Lacomb 254; Brunet 302; Moreau 1514, 860;  Rahir 1931, Nº.321; Soleil, S293; Van Praet g, S.82, Nº. 224 and S.112, Nº. 314. cf. Subbotina O.V. Engravings with Captions in the… Read More

Ulrich Zel, Cologne's first printer, learned his craft from Fust and Schoeffer in Mainz. He began printing in Cologne probably in 1465: I[ Cologne, Ulrich Zel, not after 1473], 1473. One of the earliest editions most likely the Second, (editio princeps: Venice 1470). This copy is bound in new quarter calf over original wooden boards. Capitals supplied in Red and Blue. Goff E119; BMC I 194(U. S: Boston Public Library, Indiana Univ., The Lilly Library (- 2 ff.), YUL);Eusebius Goff E119; (Boston P.L., Indiana Univ (- 2 ff.) YUL) https://data.cerl.org/istc/ie00119000. This copy contains the fifteen books of the "Praeparatio evangelica," whose purpose is "to justify the Christian in rejecting the religion and philosphy of the Greeks in favor of that of the Hebrews, and then to justify him in not observing the Jewish manner of life [...] "The following summary of its contents is taken from Mr. Gifford's introduction to his translation of the "Praeparitio:The first three books discuss the threefold system of… Read More

Augsburg. [[The Place of publication not identified (but most likely Augsburg ]: Most likely by H. Steiner, 1530. First German edition. Bound in Modern half vellum with label on spine (somewhat stained, slightly discolored in the margins). The title page has dense contemporary annotations, first and last few pages somewhat waterstained. Quarto: 20 x 15cm. Signatures: A-M⁴ N². This is the First German edition translated by Johannes Lorchner and edited by Johann Besolt. With large woodcut title Of Aristotle offering Alexander this book. The title page has dense contemporary annotations, first and last few pages somewhat waterstained, large woodcut portrait of Alexander the Great on the back of the title page Woodcut on the title and woodcut portrait by Jörg Breu, and 2 further woodcuts. Bound in Modern half vellum with label on spine (somewhat stained, slightly discolored in the margins). large woodcut portrait of Alexander the Great on the back of the title page Woodcut on the title and woodcut… Read More