John Calvin. Two-in-one. 1576 Epistolae et Responsa, 1600 Commentarii... Pauli

An interesting opportunity to own a very early printing (possibly the first) of a John Calvin title, Epistolae et Responsa, a collection of Calvin's letters published by Theodore of Beza after being entrusted with the letters, by Calvin.

The title page of Epistolae... states "Editio Secunda" (2nd edition), but the Swiss bibliographers Heyer and Pallard noted that "this edition includes unsold copies of the 1st ed., to which 9 folios have been added, pp. 412-428, i.e. 16 new letters with a title bearing: Editio Secundo". (See page 243, Bibliographie National Suisse, 1896 - "Cette édition comprend les exemplaires non vendus de la 1re édition auxquels on a ajouté 9 feuillets , p . 412-428 , soit 16 lettres nouvelles avec un titre portant : Editio Secunda.")


The 1576 Epistolae et Responsa is bound behind a 1600 edition of Johannis Calvini Commentarii In Omnes Pauli Apostoli Epistolas, atque etiam in Epistolam ad Hebraeos. There are two printings, bound together, inside this one binding.

A little rough, the price reflects the condition.

Physical Attributes -

Measures approx. 36 x 23 x 3 cm, folio. Vellum blind stamped binding. Spine with five raised bands and the title, in an old hand, in one compartment. Sprinkled page edges. Two book in one binding.
Pages - (Pauline commentaries) iv, 636, index - 12, In Epistolas... - 124, index - 12. (Epistolae et Response) - xxxx, pagination starts at 5 (but heading page and signature is A1, so likely the pagination reflects re-using the 1st edition) - 428, index - 11 (verso of last leaf blank).

Condition -

See pictures. Binding very well worn, with most the lower edges exposed and worn through, leaving the front vellum flapping at the bottom right corner. Some cockling to vellum, and exposure of pasteboard, which is worn/frayed at bottom corners. Vellum joints cracked but bands holding. Pastedowns lifted, presumably to look for early manuscripts under (too much of this lately). Ex libris with call numbers, library stamps, etc. throughout. Some toning throughout. Large moisture mark at the middle of the text block, at the middle of the fore-edge, leaving a half circle on the page for most the book (see pictures); also at the bottom edge, but mostly only in the margin. 1st title page with a 1" square missing from bottom of leaf (presumably to repair something else). A few worm-tracks in the bottom margin of the first edition. Occasional thumb, dog-eared page, fox spot, etc.. Surprisingly, I find no annotations in the text.