Speculum humanae salvationis

Chancery folio (310 x 210mm.), 269 leaves (of 270, without initial blank), [a-z A-D¹⁰], 33 lines, gothic type, 3-line lombard initials, 2- and 3-line initials spaces, some supplied in red, hand-coloured woodcuts, occasional red initial-strokes and underlining, manuscript coat-of-arms at foot of first leaf, remains of manuscript quiring, contemporary south German blind-stamped calf over square wooden boards, single clasp, some deckle edges, [a]10 becoming loose, [n]5 torn in text without loss, occasional light staining (sometimes from paint or ink), a few small wormholes, joints skilfully repaired

Charterhouse of Buxheim, inscription and ink stamp at foot of first leaf, plausibly a gift to them from the printer; their library went in 1810 to the Graf von Ostein, and inherited by; Graf von Waldbott-Bassenheim, sale, Munich, Behrens, 20 September 1883, lot 2882

Goff S670; H 14929; BMC ii 321; BSB-Ink S-509; Bod-inc S-274; GW M43054; Fairfax Murray, German 399

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 BEAUTIFUL LARGE AND CRISP COPY WITH CONTEMPORARY COLOUR IN A CONTEMPORARY BINDING. This is the first Latin-German edition, containing the first edition in German; there were previous editions produced in the Netherlands as block books.

Günther Zainer was the first printer to set up shop in Augsburg, at the invitation of the abbot of the monastery of SS Ulrich and Afra, where he worked from 1468 until his death (possibly at the Charterhouse of Buxheim) in 1478. He produced many vernacular texts, in particular with woodcuts, and was the first printer to use a set of printed large initials, rather than leaving gaps for a rubricator or illuminator to fill in.

Zainer gave two copies of each book he printed to the Charterhouse of Buxheim during the years 1474-1478, so this copy is plausibly one of those gifts.