Hieronymus, Sanctus

Median folio (344 x 217mm.), 464 (of 845 leaves), 60 lines plus headline, roman and gothic type, woodcut printer's device on final leaf, woodcut initials, some with early colour, 9- to 12-line initials supplied in blue with red and green penwork decoration, yellow initial-strokes, neat early annotations in red and brown ink, contemporary blind-tooled calf over wooden boards, metal edges to each lower corner, gauffered edges, a few wormholes in gutter and in text towards end (with loss of some letters), large inkstain on B4, E5 torn and repaired with minor loss, rebacked with some loss of calf on upper cover, lacking two clasps

Richard Caton of Liverpool, armorial bookplate

Goff H160; H 8581; BMC v 350; Bod-inc H-080; BSB-Ink H-259; GW 12419

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."

A tall and crisp copy, comprising the first fourteen books together with the Nominum scripturae sacrae. This substantial work was usually bound in two volumes, of which this would have been the first.

The tooling on the binding has been executed with just one stamp, a triangular half-stamp used to make the diamond shapes to fill the compartments and then used repeatedly to make the outer border.

Among the woodcuts are two small portraits of a scholar at his desk, some named as Jacobus de Voragine or Niccolò Manerbi (or Malermi).