Geoffrey of Monmouth, Methodius, Tiraqueau, Grapaldus, Paris, 1507-1517, English stamped calf

Property of Ampleforth Abbey Trust

Geoffrey of Monmouth, and others

A volume of five works by Geoffrey of Monmouth, Leonardo Bruni, Methodius, Tiraqueau and Grapaldi, with English recusant provenance, comprising:

GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH. Britannie utriusque Regum et principum origo & gesta insignia... in latinum traducta. (Paris: Jodocus Badius Ascensius, 13 September 1517), woodcut printer's device on title-page, woodcut armorial on verso of AA8, woodcut initials, lacking 4 leaves of preliminaries (AA3-6) with verses and table of contents

BRUNUS ARETINUS, Leonardus. De Bello Gotthorum. (Paris: Jean Petit, 1507), woodcut device of Petit on title-page

METHODIUS. [De revelatione, edited by Sebastian Brant and Wolfgang Aytinger]. Basel: Michael Furter, 1515, woodcut on title-page, woodcut illustrations, woodcuts on a3-4 stained with ink markings to cover the nudity of the figures

TIRAQUEAU, André. Ex commentariis in Pictonum consuetudines sectio de legibus diligenter recognita et tersa. (Paris: Jodocus Badius Ascensius, 23 October 1515), woodcut printer's device on title-page

GRAPALDI, Francesco Maria. [De partibus aedium]. (Paris: François Regnault and Jean Petit, 25 June 1517), woodcut device of Regnault on title-page

5 works in one volume, 4to (198 x 130mm.), contemporary English (London) stamped calf over wooden boards, two clasps, some damp-staining, first few leaves damaged in outer margin, binding rebacked with new endleaves, lacking both straps

The Revelations of St Methodius (died 312) were first published in 1496, and Brant's version was first published by Furter in 1498, with woodcuts. It is surmised that the author is more likely to be the Augsburg monk Wolfgang Aytinger, and it was written in the context of a planned crusade against the Turks.

LITERATURE:

Moreau II:1618, I:p.255, II:1230, II:1623; 1st & 4th works: Renouard, Badius Ascensius II, p.462 & III, p.307; 2nd work: IA 125.746; 3rd work: VD16 M4935; cf. Fairfax Murray, German 289 (1504 edition)

PROVENANCE:

"This book belongs to Mr Seal at borsco Hal [Burscough Hall, Lancashire], borrowed by me, John Maynard, and now to Mr James Gorsuch his successor in that place", inscription on title-page (John Maynard was a Jesuit priest in Lancashire, recorded in the early eighteenth century, and James Gorsuch is recorded at Douai in 1705); G. Mannifold, August 1568, inscription on final blank of first part; William Harrison, early inscription at end