BEDE, OPUSCULA, COLOGNE, 1537, CONTEMPORARY BLIND-STAMPED FLEMISH CALF

Anselmus. Luculentissimae in omnes sanctissimi Pauli Apostoli epistolas enarrationes. Cologne: Eucharius Cervicornus (for Gottfried Hittorp), August 1533, title within woodcut frame, woodcut initials and headpieces 2 works in one volume, Anselm bound first, folio (310 x 196mm.), contemporary Flemish blind-tooled calf over wooden boards, two clasps, metal corner guards, some deckle edges, modern folding box, rebacked (in the eighteenth century), spine cracked, upper joint split

"Antonius abbatis a Sancto Remaclo”, inscription on flyleaf; Benedictine monastery of Stavelot (Belgium), inscription “Liber Monasterii Stabulensis” on title-page (of Anselm); auction sale of the monastery library, Catalogue d'une belle collection de livres et manuscrits précieux sur vélin du VIIIe et du IXe siècle, Ghent, 26 April 1847, lot 42; Michel Chasles (1793-1880), bookplate, his sale, Paris, 27 June-18 July 1881, lot 28; Robert B. Honeyman (1897-1987), sale in these rooms, 30 October 1978, lot 265; Zisska & Kistner, Auktion 22/I, 25-28 October 1993, lot 1069, DM 2600; bought from Jonathan Hill, New York, 1994, Catalogue 82, item 8, $5000

Tomash & Williams B123; Bede: VD16 B1440; Hoogendoorn pp.164-165 Bronck03; USTC 615412; Anselm: VD16 B5004; USTC 625886

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."

An edition of Bede’s three works on nature and time, together with some anonymous computistical tracts, a calendar, and tables, edited by Joannes Noviomagus, i.e. Jan van Bronchorst (1494-1570), then a professor of philosophy at the Collegium Montanum in Cologne. Bronchorst’s principal source has been identified as Cologne, Dombibliothek 103; his extensive vetus commentaria and scolia on Bede are from another, as yet unidentified manuscript. Adams (B448) mentions an additional preliminary quire [2]A² which is not present in this copy nor in the digitised copy in Munich.

Stavelot had its own bindery at this time and it is quite plausible that this binding was executed there (see Goldschmidt, Gothic and Renaissance Book Bindings, no. 90).