Melanchthon, Lypsicae disputationis epitome, [Augsburg], 1519, old boards

MELANCHTHON, PHILIPP

Lypsicae disputationis epitome, cum defensione D. Eccii adversus Melanchthonem, et Melanchthonis modestiss. responsione. [Augsburg: Sigmund Grimm and Marx Wirsung], 1519

4to (201 x 150mm.), 32 leaves, title within woodcut border, nineteenth-century wrappers, disbound

The Leipzig Disputation of June 1519 was between Luther and his (by now) arch-rival, Joannes Eck of Ingolstadt, supported by Philipp Melanchthon and Andreas Karlstadt respectively. While prior to this Luther had seemed an adherent of the conciliarist position, which attempted to restrict the authority of the Pope, at Leipzig Eck pressed Luther on to declare that some conciliar rulings (such as the condemnation of Hus) had been wrong too. This was the final step in Luther's alienation from the Church of Rome and led to his excommunication in 1520.

The setting of Leipzig was also contentious, as Wittenberg and Leipzig were rival universities. Both sides claimed victory in the debate, and this pamphlet contains Melanchthon's version of events; it is one of several editions printed in 1519. Augsburg was second only to Wittenberg in the production of early Reformation pamphlets.

LITERATURE:

VD16 M 3205

PROVENANCE:

John Kenan, London, 1865, inscription on flyleaf