Roman Catholic Church

85 volumes, various sizes and bindings

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A unique collection of over 80 editions of the Index Librorum Prohibitorum, the index of books banned by the Catholic Church that was published from 1559 until 1948. This extensive collection includes many of the most important editions of the Index and still provides, as it did for Mendham, a valuable resource for the study of reformation Europe and the Catholic Church.  

Mendham’s interest in what he came to call the “literary policy of the Church of Rome” stemmed from his belief that, like the canons and decrees issued by the Council of Trent, the various editions of the Index “stand forth, a specimen and illustration of what the religion of Rome really is.” It was only by examining the “authentic, authorised books” of the Catholic Church, he argued, that the British public could avoid the error of Catholicism. Mendham’s own contribution to this examination was substantial: between 1826 and 1848 he published reprints of two important early editions of the Index as well as its most recent incarnation, the edition of 1835, dedicated with some sarcasm to Gregory XVI himself: “this attempt to extend the celebrity of so valuable a boon, and to do it more justice than has been done by the Secretary of his Sacred Congregation is pertinently and gratefully inscribed by the Author.”  Mendham also produced two editions, with a number of supplements, of his own contribution to the scholarly study of the Index, The literary policy of the Church of Rome exhibited, in an account of her damnatory catalogues or indexes (first published in 1826, revised in 1830).

Mendham’s collection of editions of the Index is impressive in both its historical and geographical range. The earliest books in the collection, the Mandement de limperiale Maieste donne et publie en lan xlvi (Louvain, 1546, with later editions in Flemish) and the Catalogue des livres examinez, & ce[n]surez par la Faculté de Theologie de l’vniuersité de Paris (Paris, 1551?) predate the first Papal Index of 1559 and demonstrate the attempts of the universities of Louvain and the Sorbonne to implement Roman edicts. The collection includes two contemporary editions of the Pauline Index of 1559, which was widely criticised and met with much opposition. The enforcement of the index stopped on the Pope’s death in 1559 to be replaced by the Tridentine index of 1564 (present here in a variety of editions) which won immediate and widespread acceptance.  While many copies of the Index were printed in Rome, it was produced throughout both Catholic and, perhaps more surprisingly, Protestant Europe. Mendham’s collection includes the important Plantin editions of 1570 and 1571 as well as editions published in Geneva, Heidelburg and Hanau; there are also a number of copies of the Spanish Inquisition’s own Quiroga index, a version of the papal Indexes of 1564 and 1571.  

As with many of the books in the Mendham collection, a number of the editions of the Index he acquired come from continental institutions, particularly from the Jesuit houses and colleges (most notably of Louvain, Brussels and Ghent).  There are also copies here from two collectors represented elsewhere in Mendham’s library, Jean-François van de Velde and Captain J.-G. Michiels.  Finally, the collection contains individual copies with an exceptional provenance, for example the 1632 Seville index belonging to Philip IV’s secretary Sebastian de Huerta and the 1619 Geneva Index from the library of Mauritius Moritz, Abbot of Roth.

Chronological list of editions:

Mandement de limperiale Maieste donne et publie en lan xlvi. Auecq catalogue, intitulation, ou declaration, des liures reprouuez. Louvain: Servaes van Sassen, 1546, 8vo, eighteenth-century red straight-grained morocco, binding slightly worn

Die catalogen oft inuentarisen vanden quaden verboden boecken. Louvain: Servaes van Sassen, 1550, 4to, later calf, boards detached

Die catalogen oft inuentarisen vanden quaden verboden boecken. Louvain: Servaes van Sassen, 1550, 4to, loose as issued, inscription of J.F. Vandevelde

Die catalogen oft inuentarisen vanden quaden verboden boecken. Louvain: Servaes van Sassen, 1550, 4to, loose as issued

Catalogi libroru[m] reprobatorum. Louvain: Servaes van Sassen, 1550, 4to, loose as issued

Le catalogue des livres examinez, & ce[n]surez par la Faculté de Theologie de l’vniuersité de Paris. Paris: Jean André, [1551?], 8vo, bound with  (bound with Cathalogus librorum haereticorum, Venice 1554), later cloth-covered boards, binding slightly worn

Le catalogue des livres examinez, & ce[n]surez par la Faculté de Theologie de l’vniuersité de Paris. Paris: Jean André, [1551?], 8vo, seventeenth-century calf, spine gilt in compartments, joints worn

Cathalogus librorum haereticorum [counterfeit edition]. Venice: Gabriele Giolito de Ferrari, 1554, 8vo, later cloth-covered boards, binding slightly worn

Le catalogue des liures reprouuez. Louvain: Martin Verhasselt, 1558, 4to, unbound as issued

Catalogus librorum reprobatorum & praelegendorum. Louvain: Martin Verhasselt, 1558, 4to, later paper wrappers, inscription of J.F. Vandevelde

Index auctorum, et librorum, qui … mandantur. Bologna: Antonio Giaccerello & Pelegrino Bonardo, 1559, 8vo, eighteenth-century calf gilt, bookplate of  Peter Hall, boards detached

Index auctorum, et librorum, qui … mandantur. Rome: Antonio Blado, 1559, 8vo, later vellum

Postremus catalogus haereticorum Romae conflatus, 1559. [Pforzheim: Corvinvus], 1560, 8vo, half calf, upper board detached

Index librorum prohibitorum. Cologne: Maternus Cholinus, 1564, 8vo, later calf, some paper repairs, upper board detached

Index librorum prohibitorum. Venice:  Aldus, 1564, 8vo, later calf-backed boards, binding slightly worn

Index librorum prohibitorum. Venice: Paulus Manutius, 1564, 4to, eighteenth-century calf gilt, joints and spine worn

Index librorum prohibitorum. Lisbon: Antonio Ribero, 1581, contemporary limp vellum, binding slightly soiled Jesuits Louvain

Index librorum prohibitorum. Liège: (Gualterus Morberius for )Henricus Hovius, 1568, 8vo, early annotations, contemporary limp vellum, binding worn

Index librorum prohibitorum. Liège: (Gualterus Morberius for )Henricus Hovius, 1569, 8vo, later calf, spine gilt in compartments, joints worn

Index librorum prohibitorum. Antwerp: Christophe Plantin, 1570, 8vo, later calf, spine gilt in compartments, joints and spine worn

Index expurgatorius librorum qui hoc seculo prodierunt. Antwerp: Christophe Plantin, 1571, 4to, seventeenth-century calf gilt, spine gilt in compartments, upper board detached, binding worn

Index expurgatorius librorum qui hoc seculo prodierunt. Antwerp: Christophe Plantin, 1571, 4to, seventeenth-century calf gilt, spine gilt in compartments, upper board detached, binding worn  Lucas, Jesuit

Index expurgatorius librorum qui hoc seculo prodierunt. [Heidelberg]: Johannes Mareschallus, 1586, 12mo, later calf, later blind-stamped calf, fifteenth-century printed endpapers, binding worn

Index expurgatorius librorum qui hoc seculo prodierunt. [Strasbourg]: Lazarus Zetzner, 1599, 12mo, contemporary vellum, binding soiled

Index expurgatorius librorum qui hoc seculo prodierunt. Strasbourg: Lazarus Zetzner, 1609, 12mo, contemporary calf gilt, joints worn

Index et catalogus librorum prohibitorum. Madrid: Alphonso Gomez, 1583, 4to, contemporary calf gilt, spine gilt in compartments, joints worn, worn at extremities

Index expurgatorius librorum. Strasbourg: Lazarus Zetzner, 1609, 8vo, later calf, binding worn, boards detached

Index librorum expurgatorum. Madrid: Alphonso Gomez, 1584, 4to, contemporary vellum, inscription of Alonso del Valdes, some paper repairs, binding slightly worn

Index librorum expurgatorum. Saumur: Thomas Portau, 1601, 4to, contemporary vellum

Index librorum prohibitorum a Sixto V., Papa. London: James Moyes for James Duncan, 1835, contemporary boards, ms notes and corrections by Joseph Mendham

Index librorum prohibitorum. Venice: Nicola Moretti, 1596, 12mo, contemporary calf-backed boards, binding slightly worn

Index librorum prohibitorum. Rome: Impressores Camerales, 1596, 12mo, calf-backed boards, binding worn

Indices expurgatorii duo. Hanau: Guilielmus Antonius, 1611, 8vo, contemporary vellum, binding slightly soiled

Index librorum prohibitorum. Liège: Henricus Hovius, 1607, 12mo, contemporary calf, boards detached

Indicis librorum expurgandorum [counterfeit edition?]. Rome: typographia R. Cam. Apost., 1607, 8vo, contemporary calf, boards detached, spine worn

Indicis librorum expurgandorum. Rome: typographia R. Cam. Apost., 1607, 8vo, contemporary limp vellum, ownership inscription of Capt. Michiels, binding slightly worn

Indicis librorum expurgandorum. Rome: typis Comini Venturae, 1608, 4to, contemporary vellum,

Index librorum prohibitorum. An exact reprint [of the Rome, 1608 edition] … edited, with a preface, by Richard Gibbings. Dublin; London: Milliken and Son, William Curry, 1837, publisher’s cloth, binding worn

Index librorum prohibitorum et expurgatorum. Madrid: Ludovicus Sanchez, 1612, folio, contemporary calf, boards detached, from the library of G. de Servais

Index librorum prohibitorum et expurgatorum. Palermo: J. Baptista Maringo, 1628, folio, contemporary calf, binding worn, J. Vandevelde

Index librorum prohibitorum et expurgatorum. Geneva: Jacobus Crispinus, 1619, 4to, contemporary blind-stamped vellum, metal clasps, imprint inked out, binding slightly rubbed, Moritz, Abbot of Roth, armorial bookplate;  Kloster Roth, inkstamp

Index auctorum da[m]natae memoriae. Lisbon: Petrus Craesbeeck, 1624, folio, contemporary calf, binding worn, upper board detached, Samuel Norris, inscription

Elenchus librorum omnium tum in Tridentino, Clementinoq. Indice. Rome: typographia Rev. Ca. Apost., 1640, later calf, binding worn

Index librorum prohibitorum et expurgatorum novissimus. Madrid [i.e. Geneva or Lyons?], Didacus Diaz, 1667, contemporary vellum, binding slightly worn

Novissimus librorum prohibitorum et expurgandorum index pro … Philippe IIII. [Madrid: 1640], folio, contemporary vellum, lacking engraved frontispiece, binding worn

Index librorum prohibitorum. Rome: typographia Rev. Camerae Apostolicae, 1664, contemporary vellum, binding worn, unidentified armorial bookplate

Index librorum prohibitorum Alexandri VII. Rome: typographia Rev. Camerae Apostolicae, 1665, 8vo, nineteenth-century cloth, edges gilt, binding worn, Jo. M. Berhold, inscription

Index librorum prohibitorum Innocenti XI.  Rome: typographia Rev. Camerae Apostolicae, 1683, contemporary vellum, Henricus Vanden Block, bookplate

Novissimus librorum prohibitorum et expurgandorum index. Madrid: typographia Musica, 1707, contemporary limp vellum, ties, binding slightly worn

Suplemento a el Indice expurgartorio. Madrid: Joseph Gonzalez, 1739, contemporary limp vellum, ties, binding slightly worn

Index librorum prohibitorum usque ad annum M.DCCXI.  Rome: typographia Rev. Camerae Apostolicae, 1711, 8vo, later half calf, binding worn

Index librorum prohibitorum Innoc. XI … jussu editus usque ad … 1681. Prague: Joseph Antonius Schillart for Paul Lochner, 1726, 8vo, contemporary calf, upper board detached, binding worn

Index librorum prohibitorum Innoc. XI.  Rome: typographia Rev. Camerae Apostolicae, 1704-1734, 8vo, contemporary calf gilt, spine gilt in compartments, boards detached, wear to extremities

Index librorum expurgandorum. Stadt am Hof: Johannes Gastl, 1745, 8vo, contemporary blind-stamped pigskin, clasps, some wear to extremities, unidentified episcopal bookplate

Index librorum prohibitorum. Madrid: Emmanuel Fernandez, 1747, 2 volumes, folio, contemporary calf, bindings slightly worn, Manuel Gerrard, inscription

Index librorum prohibitorum usque ad … 4 Juni … MDCCXLIV.  Rome: typographia Rev. Camerae Apostolicae, 1744-1750, 8vo, contemporary calf, gilt, spine gilt in compartments, boards scuffed, joints worn

Index librorum prohibitorum … Benedicti XIV.  Rome: typographia Rev. Camerae Apostolicae, 1758, folio, contemporary vellum, extremities worn, spine worn at head

Catalogus librorum a Commissione Aulica Prohibitorum. Vieanna: Officina Libraria Kaliwodiana, 1762, 8vo, contemporary paper wrappers, some wear

Erster[-sechster] Nachtrag zu dem Catalogo Librorum a Commissione Aulica Prohibitorum. Vienna: Leopold Johann Kaliwoda, 1764-1768, 6 volumes, 8vo, paper wrappers

Index librorum prohibitorum. Venice: typographia Columbaniana, 1766, 8vo, paper wrappers, rather browned

Index librorum prohibitorum … Benedicti XIV.  Rome: typographia Rev. Camerae Apostolicae, 1758-1770, 8vo, contemporary calf, spine gilt, boards detached and worn

Index librorum prohibitorum … Benedicti XIV.  Rome: typographia Rev. Camerae Apostolicae, 1770, 8vo, paper wrappers, slightly worn, bookplate of Joseph Webber, Kortrijk

Catalogus librorum a Commisione Caes. Reg. aulica prohibitorum. Vienna: Leopold Kaliwoda, 1774, 8vo, contemporary calf, boards detached and worn, spine worn

Catalogus librorum a Commissione Caes. Reg. aulica prohibitorum. Vienn: typis Geroldianis, 1776, 8vo,  contemporary calf, boards detached, spine worn

Catalogus librorum a Commissione Aulica prohibotorum. Vienna: Leopold Kaliwoda, 1768, 8vo, paper wrappers, slightly worn

Index librorum prohibitorum … Pii sexti. Rome: typographia Rev. Camerae Apostolicae, 1786, 8vo, contemporary vellum, spine worn at head

Indice ultimo de los libros prohibidos y mandados expurgar. Madrid: Antonio de Sancha, 1790, 4to, contemporary vellum, ties, binding slightly browned, Libreria Cuellar

Index librorum prohibitorum … Pii sexti.  Rome: typographia Rev. Camerae Apostolicae, 1786-1807, 8vo, contemporary boards, worn at extremities, Jesuits at Louvain

Index librorum prohibitorum … Pii sexti.  Rome: typographia Rev. Camerae Apostolicae, 1806, 8vo, contemporary calf, binding worn

Catalogue des ouvrages mis a l’Index. Brussels: librarie Catholique and Demengeot, 1828, 8vo, original paper wrappers, worn

Index librorum prohibitorum … Pii septimi Pontificis … jussu editus. Rome: typographia Rev. Camerae Apostolicae, 1819, 8vo, original boards, binding worn

Catalogue des ouvrages mis a l’Index.  Paris: Edouard Garnot, 1826, 8vo, original paper wrappers, binding worn

Catalogue des ouvrages condamnés depuis 1814 jusqu’à de jour. Paris: Pillet ainé, 1827, original paper wrappers, binding worn

Index librorum prohibitorum … Gregorii XVI … jussu editus. Rome: typographia Rev. Camerae Apostolicae, 1835, original wrappers, lacking upper wrapper, worn

Index librorum prohibitorum … editum anno MDCCCX. Mechelin: P.J. Hanicq, 1838, 12mo, contemporary calf, spine gilt, boards detached

Index librorum prohibitorum juxta exemplar Romanum … editum … MDCCCXXXV.  Mechelin: P.J. Hanicq, 1843, 12mo, contemporary calf, boards detached, lacking spine

Index librorum prohibitorum … Gregorii XVI … jussu editus.  Rome: typographia Rev. Camerae Apostolicae, 1841, original wrappers, worn

Indice general de los libros prohibidos. Madrid: Jose Felix Palagios, 1844, original paper wrappers, worn

Liste des personnes qui ont été condamnées a l’acte public de foi … le 20 Septembre 1761. Lisbon [i.e. Paris?], 1761