Natalibus, Catalogus sanctorum, Venice, 1516, contemporary tooled morocco

Petrus de Natalibus

Catalogus sanctorum & gestorum eorum ex diversis voluminibus collectus [edited by Alberto da Castello]. [Venice]: (Nicolaus de Frankfordia, 1 December 1516)

4to (208 x 147mm.), woodcut initials, woodcut of the Crucifixion opposite start of text and both pages surrounded by small woodcut portraits of saints, small woodcut portraits within text, woodcut printer's device below colophon, contemporary tooled chestnut morocco over wooden boards, small YHS stamp in centre of covers, remains of four clasps, small holes at foot of lower cover (presumably from a chaining staple), upper corner of yy4 torn (affecting foliation), a few leaves slightly browned, rebacked retaining most of original spine

One of many editions of Petrus de Natalibus' popular account of the saints, originally written in the fourteenth century and here edited by Alberto da Castello, a Dominican at the Venetian monastery of SS. Giovanni e Paolo, a regular and prolific author of other illustrated devotional texts.

LITERATURE:

Edit16 41625; Sander 4941

PROVENANCE:

Ad usum fratris Lucae de Verona ordinis fratrum praedicatorum de observantia, early inscription on title-page; Dominican Convent of Sant'Anastasia of Verona, later inscription on title-page