Duranti, Guillelmus

Chancery folio (285 x 195mm.), 263 leaves (of 264, without final blank), a⁸ b-i^8.6 k⁶ l-v^8.6 x-z A-H⁶ I-O^8.6 P-Q⁸, double column, 46 lines plus headline, 3- to 7-line initials supplied in (partly oxidised) silver, contemporary English binding by the Half-Stamp Binder, blind-tooled calf over wooden boards, covers tooled to a diaper pattern with small agnus dei, pelican, fleurs-de-lys and floral stamps, rebacked in calf and lettered in gilt, two clasps, lettered horizontally across foredge "Rationale Divinor[um] 23", nineteenth-century marbled endpapers, in modern brown buckram folding box, a small paper manuscript fragment loose in front with notes about this book, first leaf slightly soiled, a few letters rubbed on v6r, wormhole in text of quires K-L, rebacked, lacking both straps

"Liber d[omin]no Cuthberti Dunelmensis emptus sumptibus assignatus d[omi]no [?] Wylo mo[na]cho", early sixteenth-century inscription beneath colophon (there is a book in the Bodleian Library, Bod-inc R-047, which has an inscription from Christopher Willey, a monk of Durham who died in 1530); Adam Holiday (prebendary of Durham 1560-1590), later inscription beneath that; Law Society, armorial bookplate

Goff D436; HC 6496; BMC i 143; Bod-inc D-191; GW 9137

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

From the library of St Cuthbert's cathedral priory in Durham, a Benedictine house which was dissolved in 1539. This is one of the hundred or so printed books from the substantial monastery library listed by Ker & Watson, Medieval libraries of Great Britain: a list of surviving books (2nd edition, 1964).

The Half-Stamp Binder was active from 1491 to 1511, and Oldham notes that 22 bindings by him are recorded. This binding shows the characteristic placing of the fleurs-de-lys stamps in the border facing up along the right hand side and down along the left. The tools used are listed in Oldham, English Blind-Stamped Bindings (1927), plate XXV, nos 312, 314, 318; the larger flowerbud stamp is not listed, nor is the triangular floral stamp used in the half-compartments.