Rodericus Zamorensis, Compendiosa historia hispanica, [Rome, 1470], modern calf

RODERICUS ZAMORENSIS

Compendiosa historia Hispanica. [Rome]: Ulrich Han, [not after 4 October 1470]

4to (236 x 170mm.), 162 leaves (of 186), [*⁸ **⁶ a-q¹⁰ r¹²], TWO LEAVES PRINTED ON VELLUM [a1 and a10], 33 lines, roman type, heading to each section printed in red with initials supplied in blue on a red penwork ground, smaller red and blue initials and paraphs, one word supplied in manuscript at the foot of [f1]v (as usual), modern tooled calf, gilt edges, slipcase, lacking leaves [a2-3, b10, c1, d1, k1, r1, r10-12, quires *⁸ and **⁶] (all supplied in fine printed facsimile), [e8] torn and repaired at foot, [p1] rubbed with loss of some text

FIRST EDITION of Rodrigo Sánchez's history of Castile, written to support the kingship of Henry IV of Castille (1425-1474) and establish the historical basis of the monarchy in Castile. His main source for the early years was the Historia Gothica of Rodrigo Jiménez de Rada, written in the thirteenth century, and he continues the narrative up to the year 1469 (he died in October 1470). Sánchez spent much of his career at the papal court and also wrote in defence of the papacy.

Other copies are recorded with a couple of leaves printed on vellum (such as the copy in Uppsala). The printer notes in the colophon that this work was produced "sine calamo aut pennis".

LITERATURE:

ISTC ir00211000

PROVENANCE:

Colección Alfageme-Fontanals, name on spine