Hieronymus

2 volumes, Super-Royal folio (420 x 273mm.), 252 (of 254, without initial and final blanks) and 329 (of 330, without initial blank) leaves, vol.1: (i-iii)⁸; a⁸ b-l¹⁰ m-z aa-dd⁸ ee¹⁰; vol.2: (ii, iii)⁶; A-K¹⁰ L-Z AA-KK⁸ LL¹⁰ MM-OO⁸ PP⁶, 53 lines, roman type with some words in Greek, 2- to 10-line initial spaces with printed guides, vol.2 with early manuscript foliation in outer margin, early nineteenth-century calf, gilt border, spine gilt in compartments, pink paper endleaves, annotations washed, inscription at head of first leaf washed, a few small wormholes at end of each volume, first few quires of volume 2 with leaves repaired at foot, a few marginal paper repairs, Z1 slightly stained, bindings worn with some sticky tape on spines

Count Dmitri Petrovich Boutourlin (1790-1849, director of the Imperial State Library), bookplate, catalogue of his Florence library (1831), no.260 ("exempl. magnifique"), with that number written opposite first leaf of text, sale, Paris, Silvestre, November 1839, lot 229; William George Thorpe, F.G.S. (died 1903), inscription on inside front cover dated 1872

Goff H169; HC 8557; BMC vii 942; BSB-Ink H-248; Bod-inc H-087; GW 12429; Grosjean & O'Connell 64

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."

Boutourlin's library and sale catalogues attributed the printing to Andreas Portilia, the first printer in Parma. It is now ascribed to its eponymous press, responsible for this and six other works in 1480-1481. BMC opines that the printer probably came to Parma from Venice. The text was reprinted from the 1476 Miscomini edition, with some additional tracts mentioned in the second colophon which appear here for the first time.

St Jerome's letters were very widely read for both their style and content, and this is at least the ninth edition, which survives in over 100 copies. The collection comprises around 120 letters by Jerome together with around 30 addressed to him, and many of his correspondents were women who were being exhorted to follow a celibate and ascetic life.