Caracciolus, Robertus

Chancery folio and 4to (267 x 193mm.), 270 leaves, [a-i¹⁰ k⁶; l-t¹⁰ v¹²; x-z A-C¹⁰ D¹²], 36 lines, roman type, 5-line illuminated initial with white vine stem decoration at start of text, other smaller initials in red and blue, red and blue paraphs and underlining, some early annotations, eighteenth-century Italian vellum-backed boards, morocco lettering pieces (including "editio princeps"), a few small wormholes, staining at head of leaves (severely affecting some leaves), binding slightly rubbed

Conte Maffeo Pinelli (1736-1785), sale, London, John Edwards, 1789, lot 5753; Samuel Tyssen (1755-1800, of Narborough Hall, Norfolk), sale, Leigh and Sotheby, 12 December 1801, lot 1280, £1 1s; Michael Wodhull, notes and inscription on flyleaf dated 17 December 1801, £1-1s, and the date Oct. 18 1805 written at end of volume, his sale, Sotheby's, 13 January 1886, lot 588, 16s; Marie Lea-Wilson (died 1971), donation bookplate dated 1924

Goff C168; H 4428; BSB-Ink C-128; Bod-inc C-072; GW 6063; Grosjean & O'Connell 35 (mistaking this for H 4427)

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."

Franciscus Renner de Heilbronn was active from 1471 to 1483, sometimes working in partnership with others (for books from each of these later partnerships, see lots 16 and 234. This early product of his press, with a "delicate roman fount" (BMC v, p. xii), was printed in three sections, on paper stocks of mixed sizes. A variant setting, with the same collation (GW 6062), was published by Renner the same year.

This is one of many editions of Caracciolo's popular sermons printed in the 1470s. There were four editions in 1472 alone, but the priority of these cannot be established.

The Pinelli provenance is not noted in the book, but the binding of this volume is identical to that of Ubertinus de Casali (lot 354), indicating that they came from the same collection, and Pinelli did own a copy of this book.