GREGORIUS I, MORALIA IN JOB, ROME, 1475, 2 VOLUMES, LATER MOTTLED CALF GILT

Royal folio (423 x 290mm.), bound in 2 volumes (first volume quires a-u; second volume quires x-Q), 364 leaves (of 366, wanting first leaf with De Dominicis’ prefatory letter, and final blank), [a12 b8 c-d10 e8 f10 g-h8 i-k10 l8 m10 n-o8 p-q10 r8 s-t10 u8 x-z10 A-B10 C8 D10 E8 F-K10 L8 M-P10 Q8], double column, 56 lines, roman type, full border in foliate design and illuminated initial (10 lines) with portrait of Gregory I (leaf c2 recto), coloured initial inhabited by a Dominican Friar (8 lines; leaf c6 recto), coloured initials with foliate or flower decoration or parted initials (6-10 lines) in red and blue with pen-work decoration in contrasting colour or flower decoration over a yellow ground at the beginning of books, initials in blue with pen-work decoration or in alternating blue or red for initial index and chapters (4 lines), capitals in the index and chapter numbers touched in yellow throughout, marginal annotations and nota signs by a contemporary German reader in brown and light purple ink, seventeenth-century mottled brown calf with gilt-tooled decoration over pasteboard, spine gilt in compartments, slight foxing and staining, a few paper repairs (that on first leaf with slight loss of text)

Unidentified Dominican convent, its inscription "Hic liber est conventus … ordinis praedicatorum" on first leaf of volume two (leaf x1 recto); coat-of-arms (argent, five fusils in fess sable?) supplied later in dark brown ink in dedicated blank space on leaf c2 recto

ISTC ig00428000

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."

A fine copy with contemporary decorated full border and inhabited initials, possibly Southern Germany, Austria or Bohemia. According to the prefatory letter by Dominicus de Dominicis, the edition was produced in 300 copies by 3 men working for 3 months.