Liber sacerdotalis, Venice, 1523, contemporary half calf over wooden boards

Liber sacerdotalis

Liber sacerdotalis nuperrime ex libris s[an]c[t]e Romane eccl[es]ie et q[uo]rundam aliarum ecclesiarum, & ex antiq[ui]s codicibus apostolicae bibliothece... [compiled by Alberto da Castello]. (Venice: Melchiorre Sessa and Pietro Ravani, 20 July 1523)

4to (213 x 155mm.), title printed in red with a woodcut of the pope presenting a book to a kneeling priest, printed in red and black throughout, woodcut initials and illustrations, typeset music, woodcut Sessa device beneath colophon, with final blank leaf, contemporary calf-backed wooden boards, two clasps, title-page repaired at foot, L1 repaired at upper corner, occasional light damp-staining, binding rubbed with some wormholes, joints cracked, spine chipped, lacking one strap

FIRST EDITION of Alberto da Castello's influential compilation of rituals, comprising sacraments (including exorcism), blessings, and processions, including musical instructions. The woodcuts in the text illustrate liturgical ceremonies and episodes from the New Testament.

Alberto was in Rome in 1520, preparing the materials for this edition, and the archives record a payment to him of 25 ducats for a printed Pontificale and a manuscript Liber sacerdotalis provided to Leo X (Daniela Fattori, "Frate Alberto da Castello, un domenicano in tipografia", La Bibliofilia 109 (2007), 143-168, pp.146 & 152). Leo provided the privilege for this work on 2 November 1520 but it was not printed until 1523.

LITERATURE:

Edit16 11931; Sander 3951