Ludolphus de Saxonia

5 volumes, 265x175mm, manuscript on vellum, COMPLETE, I: i+191+ii (i-xxiii8, xxiv8-1, last blank cancelled), II: ii+136+ii (i-xvii8, last leaf blank), III: ii+205+ii (i-xxv8, xxvi6-1, last blank cancelled), IV: ii+177+ii (i-xxi8, xxii10-1, last blank cancelled), V: ii+181+ii (i-xxii8, xxiii8-3, last 3 blank leaves cancelled), original foliation in a mixture of roman and arabic numerals in red ink (in vol.III two leaves between 83 and 84 that are not included in the foliation are marked ‘Ø’, and in vol.V ‘78’ is repeated, and the foliation stops at 120, the end of the Vita Christi section), large puzzle initials including coats of arms at beginning of books, some flourished and mostly simple initials in plain red, the vellum of mediocre quality, uniformly bound in nineteenth-century brown morocco by Lewis (according to a pastedown inscription), with some wear and scuffing

The condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing.
"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."

PROVENANCE

(1) Made for, and perhaps at, THE CELESTINE MONASTERY OF ST MARY, COLOMBIER-LE-CARDINAL, in the Ardèche, between Lyon and Valence, founded in 1361 by Cardinal Pierre Bertrand de Colombier: each book begins with a large initial enclosing his arms (argent, between three mullets gules, on a chevron gules bordered azure, two affronted doves [colombes] argent, the whole surmounted by a cardinal’s hat, gules); vols.II-V also have their ownership inscription on the last page: ‘Iste liber est Celestinorum beate Marie de Columbario, signatum .xii. [‘13’, ‘xiiii.’, ‘xv’ respectively]’; the order was suppressed in 1773 and the house was closed in 1778. (2) Thomas Thorpe, London bookseller: apparently offered in several catalogues from 1828 to 1831, and 1832 no.806 ('806' in pencil on upper pastedown). (3) SIR THOMAS PHILLIPPS, doubtless bought from Thorpe’s 1832 catalogue, but perhaps mislaid and not catalogued before 1869; his nos.21445–9: with the usual inscription and label at the foot of each spine; sale, Sotheby's, 10 June 1896, lot 843, £10, to Rimell. (4) William O'Brien, bequest booklabel dated 1899.

TEXT

Ludolph of Saxony, Vita Christi (vol.I, f.1r to vol.V, f.120r); followed by a sermon of Jean Gerson on the Passion, preached at St Bernard’s, Paris, on Good Friday, 1403: 'Prologue du sermon maistre Iehan Iarson desus la passion. Ceste passion composa et prescha … l’an mil.CCCC.et deux. … Incipit sermo. A dieu s’en va par mort amere …' (f.120v); 'Sequitur vita et passio Ihesu Christi per carmina a beato Bernardo composita … Desere iam anima lectulum soporis … pia nobis iugiter mater miserere. Amen’ (f.173r); a short note on roman numerals: ‘Secuntur versus ad cognoscendum numerum. .I. monos, v quinos, x decem …’ (f.178v ); a treatise on arabic numerals: ‘Sequitur tabula ad cognoscendum figuras et cyffras argorismi … Argorismus quod lingua arabica interpretatur numerus …’, including a list of roman and arabic numerals up to 21,000 (f.178v ); ending with short notes on minutes and hours, lunar phases, and winds (f.179v).

Ludolph of Saxony’s Vita Christi was completed in 1374 and inspired by the Franciscan tradition of meditation on the Passion. It offered a selection of passages from the four Gospels, interspersed with commentaries from the patristic literature, intended to encourage the reader to meditate on their significance. The great popularity of Ludolph of Saxony's work is demonstrated by the numerous manuscript and early printed copies (see lots 227 and 228).