Ubertinus de Casali

Chancery folio (275 x 200mm.), 250 leaves, a-z A⁸ B¹²; C-G⁸ H⁶, double column, 58 lines plus headline, roman type, first leaf with fine contemporary north Italian decoration, an initial V in blue depicting Christ carrying the Cross with marginal decoration, red and blue paraphs, 3- to 6-line initials in red or blue, some with marginal penwork decoration, manuscript annotations by Marconi (see provenance), later vellum, calf lettering-piece, first few leaves stained, first 8 leaves repaired at foredge, b1 and b8 transposed, a few repaired marginal wormholes in quire r, occasional light staining, binding slightly soiled

Magister Thomas Mar.^s de Perg[u]la, purchased for him and his loyal friends, Venice, 12 January 1555, inscription on initial blank (Grosjean & O'Connell opine that this is Tommaso Marconi of Pergola (Marche), OFM Conv., who attended the Council of Trent); C. E. W., blind-embossed crested monogram on flyleaf; William O'Brien, bequest booklabel dated 1899

Goff U55; HC 4551; BMC v 361; BSB-Ink U-67; Bod-inc U-008; GW M48799; Grosjean & O'Connell 37

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."

First and only incunabular edition. Ubertinus de Casali (1259-c. 1329) was one of the leaders of the Spirituali Franciscans in Italy. This work, composed around 1305, champions the rule of St Francis in its strictest sense and the poverty of Christ, both of which were not encouraged by various popes, and Ubertinus was exiled and later excommunicated as a result. His afterlife in literature encompassed Dante and Umberto Eco.